Paula Hawkins

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Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins (born January 24, 1927 in Salt Lake City , Utah as Paula Fickes , † December 3, 2009 in Winter Garden , Florida ) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) who represented the state of Florida in the United States Senate .

Political rise in Florida

After attending public schools in Salt Lake City, Richmond and Atlanta , she continued her education from 1944 to 1947 at Utah State University . Paula Hawkins held her first public office from 1972 to 1979 as a member of the Public Service Commission , an independent government agency. She was the first woman to be elected to state office in Florida. From 1979 to 1980 she served as Vice President of Air Florida .

1974 Paula Hawkins first applied for the nomination of her party for the election to the US Senate, but was defeated by Jack Eckerd . When Eckerd ran for Florida governor in 1978 , Paula Hawkins was a candidate for lieutenant governor . The victory went to Democrat Bob Graham and his running mate Wayne Mixson .

US Senator

Finally, in 1980, Paula Hawkins was nominated by her party as a Senate candidate. She competed against the Democrat Bill Gunter , who had defeated incumbent Richard Stone in the primary . Hawkins prevailed with 52 percent of the vote. Since Stone resigned two days before the end of his term, she was able to exercise her mandate from January 1, 1981. She was again the first woman from Florida to hold a political office at the federal level. In 1986 she ran for re-election, but was defeated by Bob Graham.

Paula Hawkins was the first female senator whose husband also moved to Washington, DC . The "Club of Senator wives" (Senate wives club) thus became the "club of Senator spouse" (Senate spouses club) .

Mormon Faith Paula Hawkins retired after leaving the Senate in Winter Park, Florida.

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personal data
SURNAME Hawkins, Paula
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fickes, Paula (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician (Republican Party)
DATE OF BIRTH January 24, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH Salt Lake City , Utah
DATE OF DEATH December 3, 2009
Place of death Winter Garden , Florida