The first time I remember seeing Jennifer she was working with LGBTQ+ recovering alcoholics/drug addicts. She seemed to bring everyone together, delegate tasks and make sure every person was included—every voice heard.
I’m an introvert and can be pretty stubborn. For almost two years, Jennifer invited me to things and I would decline. I would disappear and she would manage to find me to invite me to an event, a meeting, a lunch.I’d say no but she never gave up. Jennifer’s determination was stronger than my obstinacy and I finally said yes. I’d already fallen in love on that first day. We started our journey together in 2002 and married in 2007. In 2015 Jennifer told me that she had been asked by several Democrat activists to run for HD69 in Florida’s House of Representatives.
Running for office is hard and exhausting work and it was disappointing to lose in 2016. But then Donald Trump won the presidency. Jennifer was working at USF Tampa and immediately returned to work to console and organize minority students who were terrified by the very real threat of deportation and violence. Her instinct was to engage with her community and to move to protect the vulnerable. She became the Democratic chair of HD69 and started recruiting members and organizing precincts.
When the HD69 seat opened, I knew without hesitation exactly who should run, just as I knew with absolute certainty who would win. I am so proud of Jennifer’s team, so proud of her supporters, so proud of to be a part of such a positive and historic campaign.
I could not be prouder of Jennifer—still that authentic, luminous, competent presence who brings people together on issues that matter because we all deserve better lives, because we all deserve to thrive, and because we all deserve good leaders who bring out the best in us.
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