1997 Constitution Revision Commission Members

Chairman Dexter Douglass

Occupation: Attorney
Birth date and place: Dec. 6, 1929, Pensacola
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1955

Public service:

• Constitution Revision Commission, 1978
• General Counsel to Governor Lawton Chiles

Commissioner Carlos J. Alfonso

Occupation: President, Alfonso Architects
Birth date and place: March 27, 1955, Havana, Cuba
Education: MA from University of Florida, 1982
Personal: Spouse, Dorothy Mock; Children, Ariana Marie, Carlos, Samuel

Public service:

• Tampa Barrio Latino Commission, 1996-present
• Florida Board of Professional Land Surveyors, 1992-93
• Leadership Tampa, 1987; Foundation for Florida’s Future, 1995-present
• Tampa Committee of One Hundred, 1988-present
• Outback Steakhouse Bowl selection committee, 1987-present
• Tampa Museum of Art, 1987-93
• International Council of Shopping Centers
• Florida Government Affairs Committee, 1995-present

Commissioner Clarence E. Anthony

Occupation: Mayor of South Bay
Birth date and place: Oct. 10, 1959, Belle Glade
Education: MS from Florida Atlantic University, 1982

Public service:

• Mayor of South Bay, 1984-present
• Southern District Federal Judicial nominating committee
• Leadership Florida, board of directors
• National League of Cities, second vice president
• Florida League of Cities, past president
• Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board

Commissioner Antonio L. Argiz

Occupation: Partner in accounting firm of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Co.
Birth date and place: Oct. 18, 1953, Havana, Cuba
Education: BA from Florida International University, 1974
Personal: Spouse, Conchy; Children, Carolina, Tony, Jr., Andres

Public service:

• Florida International University, Council of One Hundred, 1997-98
• FIU School of Accounting advisory board, 1992
• Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, former chairman of board of trustees
• Palmer Trinity School, board member
• Florida Foster Care Review Project, president-elect
• Miami Coalition for a Drug-Free Community, board member

Judge Thomas H. Barkdull, Jr.

Occupation: Senior Appellate Judge, Third District Court of Appeal
Birth date and place: Aug. 15, 1925, Miami
Education: LLB from University of Florida, 1949
Personal: Spouse, Bettie; Children, Thomas III

Public service:

• Judge, 3rd District Court of Appeal, 1961-96; JQC, 1966-91
• Constitution Revision Commission, 1968 and 1978
• Criminal Justice task force, 1993-95
• Article V task force, 1994

Commissioner Martha Walters Barnett

Occupation: Attorney, Holland & Knight
Birth date and place: June 1, 1947, Dade City
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1973
Personal: Spouse, Rick; Children, Richard, Sarah

Public service:

• Constitutional Taxation & Budget Reform Commission
• Florida Commission on Ethics, chairman
• Governor’s Select Committee on Workforce 2000
• Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees
• Florida Women’s Alliance, founding member and member of board of directors
• Capital Women’s Network, founding member and past president
• Florida Commission on Human Relations
• Florida Sales Tax on Services Study Commission, vice president

Commissioner Pat Barton

Occupation: Retired Realtor-associated, drug-prevention and education consultant
Birth date and place: July 10, 1940, Evanston, IL
Education: Florida State and Auburn Universities
Personal: Spouse, William; Children, Bret, Tracy Lyons, Berne, five grandchildren

Public Service:

• Health and Human Services, board member and past chairman (District 8)
• District 8 Juvenile Justice Board, vice chairman
• Florida Health and Human Services, former board member and chairman
• Republican Party of Florida, public relations chairman, 1987-91
• Naples Informed Parents, founding member, 1978; Florida Republican Women, 1985-89, president
• YMCA of Collier County, board of directors officer, 1971-78

Commissioner Robert M. Brochin

Occupation: Attorney, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Birth date and place: May 14, 1955, New York, N.Y.
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1980
Personal: Spouse, Cristina

Public service:

• Deputy General Counsel for Gov. Lawton Chiles;
• Florida Chief Inspector General

Commissioner Robert A. Butterworth

Occupation: Attorney General
Birth date and place: Aug. 20, 1942, Passaic, NJ
Education: JD from University of Miami, 1969
Personal: Spouse, Marta Prado; Children, Brandon, BreAnne

Public service:

• Circuit Court Judge, Broward County; Sheriff, Broward County
• Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, director
• Mayor of Sunrise

Commissioner Kenneth L. Connor

Occupation: Attorney, Connor & Gwartney
Birth date and place: April 24, 1947, Atlanta, GA
Personal: Spouse, Amy; Children, Kathryn Lynn, Amy Elizabeth,
Christopher Caleb, Joshua Lee
Education: JD from Florida State University, 1972

Public service:

• Florida Commission on Ethics, 1984-86 (chairman, 1985-86)
• Justice task force, 1988-92 (special counsel, 1988-89)
• Governor’s Constituency for Children, state council, 1988-90
• Federal Judicial Advisory Commission of Florida, 1989-92
• Governor’s Partnership for Adoption.

Commissioner Chris Corr

Occupation: Senior manager, Walt Disney Imagineering
Birth date and place: Oct. 20, 1963, Lansing, MI
Education: BA from University of Florida, 1986
Personal: Spouse, Candy; Children, Courtney, Christopher

Public service:

• Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce, board of directors, 1987-91
• Celebration Foundation, secretary/treasurer, 1997-present
• Disney VoluntEars, board of directors, 1994-96
• Hillsborough County High School Business Advisory Council, board of directors, 1990-91
• Healthcare Forum Accelerating Community Transformation Project, national advisory panel, 1996-present
• HRS, District 6, Drug Advisory Council, friend in government, 1991
• Economic Development Council of Apollo Beach, chairman and founder, 1989-91
• Hillsborough County Zoning Board of Adjustment, appointed by board of county commissioners, 1989-91

Commissioner Ander Crenshaw

Occupation: Sr. Vice President, William R. Hough & Co.
Birth date and place: Sept. 1, 1944, Jacksonville, FL
Education: JD from the University of Florida
Personal: Spouse, Kitty; Children, Sarah, Alex

Commissioner Valerie W. Evans

Occupation: Former high school teacher and attorney; housewife and
home school mother
Birth date and place: Nov. 10, 1950, Newton, MS
Education: JD from Florida State University, 1985
Personal: Spouse, Bob; Children, Susan

Public service:

• Pro bono adoptions

Commissioner Marilyn Evans-Jones

Occupation: Realtor
Birth date and place: Nov. 19, 1928, Deland
Education: BA from Duke University, 1950
Personal: Spouse, Edward; Children, Hugh, Dan, Cecile, Mary

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives from Brevard County, 1976-86
• Governor’s Constituency for Children, vice chairman, 1986
• Citizen’s Commission on Cabinet Review

Commissioner Barbara Williams Ford-Coates

Occupation: Tax collector, Sarasota County
Birth date and place: March 7, 1948, Richmond, VA
Education: BA from College of William & Mary, 1970
Personal: Spouse, Brian; Children, Laura, Anne, Emily

Public service:

• Sarasota County tax collector, 1984-present; Florida Tax Collectors Association, board of directors, secretary
• Manatee Community College, Institute of Government advisory board, chairman
• Sarasota County Reinventing Government Council

Commissioner Ellen Catsman Freidin

Occupation: Attorney, Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson
Birth date and place: August 24, 1946, Miami, FL
Education: JD from University of Miami, 1978
Personal: Spouse, Philip; Children, Allison, Jonathan

Public service:

• Florida Bar Special Committee for Gender Equality in the profession, chairman, 1991-95
• Dade County Bar Judicial Campaign Practices Commission, chairman
• Judicial Mediation Pilot Project for the 11th Judicial Circuit, chairman 1984-87
• Florida Bar Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, chairman; 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, 1983-87
• Florida Bar Study Commission on merit selection and retention of judges

Commissioner Paul M. Hawkes

Occupation: Attorney
Birth date and place: March 6, 1957, New London, CT.
Education: JD from Florida State University, 1985
Personal: Spouse, Leslie Karen Greer; Children, Jeremiah, Benjamin,
Joshua, Jacob, Calib

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives, 1990-94
• Prosecuting attorney, 5th Judicial Circuit

Commissioner William Clay Henderson

Occupation: President/CEO, Florida Audubon Society
Birth date and place: Sept. 16, 1955, Live Oak
Education: JD from Cumberland (AL), 1979
Personal: Spouse, Mary Jane; Children, Craig, Ardis

Public service:

• Volusia County Council, 1986-92
• Florida Communities Trust, governing board, 1991-92
• Florida Greenways Coordinating Council, chairman, 1995-present
• Florida Pollution Prevention Council, chairman, 1992-93
• East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, 1986-92

Commissioner Toni Jennings

Occupation: Senate President
Birth date and place: May 17, 1949, Orlando
Education: BA from Wesleyan College, 1971

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives, 1976-80
• President of the Florida Senate, 1980-present
• Seminole County Legislative delegation, chairman, 1990-92
• Orange County Legislative delegation, chairman, 1980-82, 1986-87, 1991-92
• Metropolitan Orlando Urban League Inc., honorary member
• Orlando Science Center, trustee emeritus

Commissioner Gerald Kogan

Occupation: Florida Supreme Court
Birth date and place: May 23, 1933, New York, N.Y.
Education: JD from University of Miami, 1955
Personal: Spouse, Irene; Children, Robert, Debra, Karen

Public service:

• Criminal Courts Committee of the Dade County Bar Association
• Florida Bar Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Florida Legislature Select Committee on Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, special counsel
• Supreme Court Gender Bias Study Commission, chairman
• Bench/Bar Commission, vice chairman
• Bench/Bar Implementation Commission, co-chairman
• Judicial Management Council, chairman

Commissioner Richard H. Langley

Occupation: Farmer and attorney
Birth date and place: Feb. 22, 1937, Lakeland, FL
Education: LLB from University of Florida, 1964

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives
• Florida Senate
• Lake County School Board

Commissioner John F. Lowndes

Occupation: Attorney, Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed
Birth date and place: Jan. 1, 1931, Medford, MA
Education: LLB from Duke University, 1958
Personal: Spouse, Rita; Children, Joseph, John, Elizabeth, Amy, Jennifer

Public service:

• Orlando Museum of Art Board of Trustees, past chairman
• Winter Park Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, past chairman
• Winter Park Health Board of Trustees, past chairman
• Orange County School Board, former trustee
• Orange County Sewer and Water Advisory Board, past chairman
• University of Central Florida College of Business Administration Dean’s Advisory Board, past chairman
• Orange County Bar Association, past president
• University of Central Florida Foundation, former board member
• Duke University Law School Board of Visitors

Commissioner J. Stanley Marshall

Occupation: Chairman, CEO of James Madison Institute
Birth date and place: Jan. 27, 1923, Cheswick, PA
Education: PhD from Syracuse University, 1957
Personal: Spouse, Shirley; Children, David, Sue Jones, John, Drew, Kim

Public service:

• Southern Scholarship Foundation; Foundation for Florida’s Future
• The Charter Foundation
• Council of Volunteer Reading Tutors Inc
• American Studies Institute of Harding University
• Bethune-Cookman College Board of Trustees
• Children’s Educational Opportunity Foundation (Central Florida) Advisory Council
• Salvation Army advisory board; PEN of Florida Inc., chairman
• Deeb Scholarship Foundation, president
• Floridians for Educational Choice, chairman and acting director
• Leon County United Way, past president

Commissioner Jacinta Mathis

Occupation: Attorney, Mathis Law Firm, P.A.
Birth date and place: Oct. 13, 1956, Great Lakes, IL
Education: JD from Florida State University, 1989

Public service:

• Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, executive member
• Judicial Nominating Committee, former member
• Orlando Area Sports Commission
• University of Central Florida, board of directors

Commissioner Jon Lester Mills

Occupation: Professor of Law, and Director, Center for Governmental
Responsibility, University of Florida College of Law
Birth date and place: July 24, 1947, Miami
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1972
Personal: Spouse, Beth; Children, Marguerite

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives, 1978-88
• House Speaker, 1986-88

Commissioner Frank Morsani

Occupation: Chairman, Precision Enterprises, Inc.
Birth date and place: May 23, 1931, Brighton, MI
Education: BS from Oklahoma State University, 1957
Personal: Spouse, Carol

Public service:

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce, former chairman
• White House Conference on Small Business, delegate
• Small Business Administration Advisory Council
• Private Industry Council, chairman
• Council on Foreign Relations
• Florida Council of One Hundred
• Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, past chairman
• Department of Commerce Sports Advisory Council, board of directors
• Museum of Science and Industry, director
• American Red Cross, director
• South Florida Endowment Fund for University of South Florida football

Commissioner Robert Lowry Nabors

Occupation: Attorney, Nabors Giblin & Nickerson
Birth date and place: April 29, 1940, Bradenton
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1966
Personal: Spouse, Joan; Children, Mike, Steve, Susie

Public service:

• Brevard County attorney, 1970-82
• General Counsel to Gov. Bob Graham, 1981
• Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission, appointed by Gov. Graham

Commissioner Carlos Planas

Occupation: Managing partner, Tamiami Automotive Group
Birth date and place: Nov. 10, 1946, Havana, Cuba
Education: BS from University of Miami, 1971
Personal: Spouse, Ivette; Children, Juan-Carlos, Alex, Ivette, Lose Luis, Cristina

Public service:

• Orange Bowl Committee
• Public Health Trust, Dade County
• Jackson Memorial Foundation, director
• Southwest Social Services, director
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
• Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

Commissioner Judith Byrne Riley

Occupation: Senior vice president, Valparaiso Realty Co.
Birth date and place: April 13, 1945, Valparaiso, FL
Education: BS from Wheaton (MA), 1978

Public service:

• Florida Commission on Status of Women
• Northwest Florida Water Management District Board
• Enterprise Florida Jobs & Education Partnership
• National Association of Private Industry Council, chairman

Commissioner Katherine Fernandez Rundle

Occupation: State attorney, 11th Circuit
Birth date and place: March 1, 1950, Washington, DC
Education: JD from University of Cambridge, England, 1976

Public service:

• Cuban Bar Association, past president
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers

Commissioner James A. Scott

Occupation: State senator
Birth date and place: Jan. 14, 1942, Pikeville, Ky.
Education: JD from University of Kentucky, 1963
Personal: Spouse, Janice Suskey; Children, Frank, Stacy Ann

Public service:

• Florida Senate minority floor leader, 19778-80
• Minority leader, 1980-82
• Judiciary Committee, chairman, 1982-84
• Appropriations Committee, chairman, 1986-88, 1992-93
• Rules and Calendar Committee, chairman and vice chairman
• Broward County Legal Aid Service, board member, 1974-76

Commissioner H. T. Smith

Occupation: Attorney
Birth date and place: April 10, 1947, Miami
Education: JD from University of Miami, 1973
Personal: Children, Katrell, Talia

Public service:

• Miami Blue Ribbon Redistricting Committee
• NFL YET Center at Gwen Cherry Park, 1995-present
• University of Miami Law Alumni Association, board of directors, 1987-90
• Judicial Nominating Commission, 3rd District Court of Appeal, 1984-88
• Florida Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 1982-884
• Miami Partners for Progress, co-chairman
• We Will Rebuild (Hurricane Andrew reconstruction), board of trustees, 1992-93

Commissioner Alan C. Sundberg

Occupation: General Counsel, Florida State University
Birth date and place: June 23, 1933, Jacksonville, FL
Education: LLB from Harvard University, 1958
Personal: Spouse, Betty Steffens; Children, Allison Lane, Angela
Estes, Laura, Alan Jr., William

Public service:

• Florida Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States
• Committee on Lawyer Qualification and Conduct U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
• Florida Bench/Bar Commission, chairman
• Governor’s Property Rights Study Commission II, chairman
• Floridians Against Constitutional Tampering, chairman
• Special Commission on Contingency Fees
• Alternate Dispute Resolution Commission
  

Commissioner James Harold Thompson

Occupation: Attorney, Ausley & McMullen
Birth date and place: Nov. 18, 1944, Mobile, Ala.
Education: JD from Florida State University, 1969
Personal: Spouse, Carolyn; Children, Jason, James, Lee Anne

Public service:

• Florida House of Representatives, 1974-86
• Speaker of the House, 1985-86
• Governor’s Environmental Land Management Study Commission, chairman, 1992-93
• Florida Power Plant Siting Act task force, vice chairman

Commissioner Paul West

Occupation: Mortgage and real estate broker, Freedom Industries, Inc.
Birth date and place: Dec. 10, 1951, Fort Campbell, KY
Education: BS from American Christian (Okla.) College, 1974
Personal: Spouse, Anne

Commissioner Gerald T. Wetherington

Occupation: Former chief judge, Dade County
Birth date and place: July 14, 1937, Adel, GA
Education: JD from Duke University, 1963

Public service:

• 11th Circuit Court, chief judge, 1981-91; 11th Judicial
  Circuit Master Plan Committee, chairman; Florida
  Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury
  Instructions; Florida Supreme Court Committee on
  Judicial records, chairman; Florida 2nd and 4th
  District Courts of Appeal, associate judge pro
  tempore; Miami Beach City Manager selection
  committee

Commissioner Stephen Neal Zack

Occupation: Attorney, Zack Sparber Kosnitzky Spratt &Brooks, P.A.
Birth date and place: Dec. 2, 1947, Detroit, MI
Education: JD from University of Florida, 1971
Personal: Children, Jason, Tracey

Public service:

• United Way; Ounce of Prevention; University of Florida,
  trustee; Orange Bowl Committee; Entertainment
  Commission