Tracy Stafford
Encyclopedia
Tracy Stafford served in the Florida House of Representatives
from 1990-2000. He currently lives in Wilton Manors, Florida, where he also served as Mayor from 1986-1990.
was crowned Miss Florida in 1976, would later work as an actress on the TV series Matlock and be the longtime television spokesperson for City Furniture.
where he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and his Juris Doctorate. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
Fraternity, Florida Beta chapter and was elected three times to the position of Archon, representing District IV on the national Fraternity's Executive Council for a total of five years. The District IV seat was also once held by President Woodrow Wilson
.
In 1990 when District 94 occupant and House Speaker Tom Gustafson was retiring from the Florida Legislature, Tracy ran as a Democrat for the open seat, beating Republican Bobbi Elder to win the first of five consecutive elections to the Florida House of Representatives, which by this time had reformed its composition to single-member districts. At that time, District 94 encompassed all of Wilton Manors, Lazy Lake, some of Oakland Park
and much of Ft. Lauderdale.
Because of redistricting that would take effect in 1992, Wilton Manors and some of the neighborhoods of Ft. Lauderdale and Oakland Park that had been in District 94 were now in the new District 92. However, District 92 would be a "swing district" of which 70 percent of its area was new and its voter composition having a Republican plurality but no partisan majority. District 92 would include most of Wilton Manors, Lazy Lake, the eastern half of Oakland Park, and a large portion of Ft. Lauderdale including Middle River Terrace, Poinsettia Heights
, Lake Ridge, Victoria Park, Colee Hammock, Tarpon River, Shady Banks, the southern half of Coral Ridge Isles and all of Ft. Lauderdale beach from the Galt Ocean Mile to Harbor Beach. District 92 would also include around a third of Davie
and some (at the time) unincorporated areas such as Broadview Park, Pine Island Ridge, Riverland, Lauderdale Isles and the North Andrews Neighborhood Association a.k.a. North Andrews Gardens.
In 1992, Tracy successfully fended off a Democratic primary challenger and then beat the Republican Mayor of Davie and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Earl Morrall
with 51.6 percent of the vote. Tracy would subsequently win election over three more Republicans including former Broward County Commissioner Jack Moss in 1994 with 55.49 percent of the vote and George LeMieux
in 1998 with 56.49 percent of the vote. LeMieux would later become a Chief of Staff to Governor Charlie Crist
and then be appointed a United States Senator from Florida.
Due to term limits, Tracy retired from the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and was replaced by the Democratic Mayor of Wilton Manors Jack Seiler.
One of Tracy's biggest legislative accomplishments was his placing the Hoffman-LaRoche drug Rohypnol - known clinically as flunitrazepam
and commonly as "roofies" - in Schedule I of the state statutes, effectively banning the date-rape drug in Florida with severe penalties for its possession and use. While it took two sessions of the Florida Legislature to pass the measure, it was the first bill signed into law by Governor Lawton Chiles
in 1997, becoming Laws of Florida, Chapter 97-1. Tracy also passed legislation into law that allows the eviction of a person convicted of a crime from a rental property within 72 hours if that property was used in the commission of the crime, such as prostitution or drug dealing.
Tracy also passed legislation ensuring that the results of a person's genetic test - that would potentially show a predisposition for a disease - would remain a private document at the discretion of the individual. Florida would then become only the fourth state to provide such protection to its residents. The effect of the legislation would prevent insurance companies and others from obtaining the information and then using it to make medical coverage either unaffordable or unavailable.
Prior to the common use of the Internet, Tracy introduced legislation that would have mandated that information about the legislative process in the Florida Legislature be posted on the World Wide Web. He was also one of the first state legislators in Florida to provide an e-mail address for communication with constituents.
Tracy would be the first member of the Florida House of Representatives to introduce legislation that would provide domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples.
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 1990-2000. He currently lives in Wilton Manors, Florida, where he also served as Mayor from 1986-1990.
Family
A fifth-generation Floridian, Tracy Eugene Stafford was born the elder child of Leslie Stafford, who worked for the Eli Witt Company, and Marcia Stafford, a kindergarten teacher and City Clerk for the City of Wilton Manors. Tracy's younger sister Nancy StaffordNancy Stafford
Nancy Elizabeth Stafford is an American prolific character actress of stage, speaker and author, known for her roles in soap operas and television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Ben Matlock's law partner and friend, Michelle Thomas, on Matlock , before she played Judge Bell on Judging Amy...
was crowned Miss Florida in 1976, would later work as an actress on the TV series Matlock and be the longtime television spokesperson for City Furniture.
Education
After graduating from Ft. Lauderdale High School, Tracy attended the University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
where he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and his Juris Doctorate. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
Fraternity, Florida Beta chapter and was elected three times to the position of Archon, representing District IV on the national Fraternity's Executive Council for a total of five years. The District IV seat was also once held by President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
.
Political Races
Tracy was elected to the Wilton Manors City Council, serving from 1975-1981. During that time, he made an unsuccessful run for the Florida House of Representatives in 1978 when members were elected in multi-member districts. He left the Council in 1981 to accept the position of city administrator. He ran for Mayor of Wilton Manors in 1986 and won the first of two terms, serving as mayor for a total of four years.Oakland Park, Florida
Oakland Park is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. Originally named Floranada , the town was forced into bankruptcy after the hurricane of 1926. When the town reincorporated, residents chose the name Oakland Park. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,363, mainly due to...
and much of Ft. Lauderdale.
Because of redistricting that would take effect in 1992, Wilton Manors and some of the neighborhoods of Ft. Lauderdale and Oakland Park that had been in District 94 were now in the new District 92. However, District 92 would be a "swing district" of which 70 percent of its area was new and its voter composition having a Republican plurality but no partisan majority. District 92 would include most of Wilton Manors, Lazy Lake, the eastern half of Oakland Park, and a large portion of Ft. Lauderdale including Middle River Terrace, Poinsettia Heights
Poinsettia Heights
Poinsettia Heights is a neighborhood in the northeast section of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and its boundaries are west of Federal Highway , north of Sunrise Boulevard and adjacent to the neighborhoods of Lake Ridge and Middle River Terrace...
, Lake Ridge, Victoria Park, Colee Hammock, Tarpon River, Shady Banks, the southern half of Coral Ridge Isles and all of Ft. Lauderdale beach from the Galt Ocean Mile to Harbor Beach. District 92 would also include around a third of Davie
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands...
and some (at the time) unincorporated areas such as Broadview Park, Pine Island Ridge, Riverland, Lauderdale Isles and the North Andrews Neighborhood Association a.k.a. North Andrews Gardens.
In 1992, Tracy successfully fended off a Democratic primary challenger and then beat the Republican Mayor of Davie and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall
Earl Edwin Morrall is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Morrall, who also occasionally punted, played 21 seasons in the National Football League as both a starter and reserve. In the latter capacity, he became known as the greatest backup quarterback in NFL...
with 51.6 percent of the vote. Tracy would subsequently win election over three more Republicans including former Broward County Commissioner Jack Moss in 1994 with 55.49 percent of the vote and George LeMieux
George LeMieux
George Stephen LeMieux is a former United States Senator from Florida. He was Chairman of the Florida-based law firm of Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. and served as Chief of Staff to Governor Charlie Crist, was former Deputy Florida Attorney General, and is credited with spearheading Crist's...
in 1998 with 56.49 percent of the vote. LeMieux would later become a Chief of Staff to Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
and then be appointed a United States Senator from Florida.
Due to term limits, Tracy retired from the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and was replaced by the Democratic Mayor of Wilton Manors Jack Seiler.
Legislative accomplishments
At various times during his five terms in the Florida House of Representatives, Tracy served as Chair of the House Juvenile Justice Committee, Broward County Legislative Delegation and Florida Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations. He was also appointed to chair a task force on contraband forfeiture to make recommendations to state lawmakers on how to provide a proper balance within Florida law between the ability of law enforcement to seize property used in the commission of a crime and to protect the property rights of individuals. In addition, Tracy served as a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee and House Judiciary Committee.One of Tracy's biggest legislative accomplishments was his placing the Hoffman-LaRoche drug Rohypnol - known clinically as flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam is marketed as a potent hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, amnestic, and skeletal muscle relaxant drug most commonly known as Rohypnol...
and commonly as "roofies" - in Schedule I of the state statutes, effectively banning the date-rape drug in Florida with severe penalties for its possession and use. While it took two sessions of the Florida Legislature to pass the measure, it was the first bill signed into law by Governor Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
in 1997, becoming Laws of Florida, Chapter 97-1. Tracy also passed legislation into law that allows the eviction of a person convicted of a crime from a rental property within 72 hours if that property was used in the commission of the crime, such as prostitution or drug dealing.
Tracy also passed legislation ensuring that the results of a person's genetic test - that would potentially show a predisposition for a disease - would remain a private document at the discretion of the individual. Florida would then become only the fourth state to provide such protection to its residents. The effect of the legislation would prevent insurance companies and others from obtaining the information and then using it to make medical coverage either unaffordable or unavailable.
Prior to the common use of the Internet, Tracy introduced legislation that would have mandated that information about the legislative process in the Florida Legislature be posted on the World Wide Web. He was also one of the first state legislators in Florida to provide an e-mail address for communication with constituents.
Tracy would be the first member of the Florida House of Representatives to introduce legislation that would provide domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples.