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Representative Franklin Sands, Minority Leader

 Representative Franklin Sands, DEMOCRATIC Leader

Rep Franklin SandsFranklin Sands (born July 12, 1940)

is the Florida House Democratic Leader and a representative of State House District 98 in Broward County.

Sands, 69, is a native of Brooklyn, New York and attended Brooklyn College, studying the culinary arts. After college, Sands bought a mail-order jewelry  company, which he operated successfully. Upon selling the company, he invested in a minor league basketball franchise as well as in hotels and a casino before moving to Florida with his family in 1982.

Sands, currently a businessman, lives in Weston, Florida. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004 to represent District 98 (encompassing parts of Broward County (portions of the cities of Sunrise, Plantation, and Weston) and subsequently reelected in 2006 and 2008.

Sands served as the (minority) Democratic Whip from 2004 to 2006 and now serves as the Democratic Leader until 2010.

Sands is a prominent advocate for biomedical research, especially embryonic stem cell research. He serves on the Broward County Children's Services Board; the Broward County Coordinating Board for Transportation Disadvantaged Services; the Broward County School Board's Facilities Task Force; and the City of Weston's Charter Review Board.

Sands is Jewish and is married to Leslie Sands. The couple has eight children
-- Rob, Roger, Stephanie, David, Dana, Charlie, Alexander, and Jacqueline.



Leader Sands Addresses President Obama's Visit to Panhandle (.mp3)

Leader Sands Addresses Need for Special Session (.mp3)

Sands Attacks House Leadership on Oil Spill, from Sunshine News, 6/17/10

House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands calls for action to help Florida's commercial seafood harvesters and retailers, from Destin.com, 6/7/10

Governor Veto Proviso Language Appropriations Act 2010-2011
(Click above for a letter from Leader Sands to Governor Crist, asking him to veto legislation that would impair Florida's ability to freely conduct embryonic stem cell research.)

Leader Franklin Sands discusses upcoming legislative issues with Susan Smith and Alison Morano on an Oct. 16 broadcast of “No Days Off Radio,” a feature of blogtalkradio

Click Above to See & Hear Leader Sands' Welcome Message
(YouTube Video)

Rep. Franklin Sands on Comcast Newsmakers
(From VodPod.com)
 

 
 THE ROLE OF THE MINORITY LEADER

The Democratic Leader is the chief policy officer for the House Democratic Caucus. Among the tasks of the Leader are:

Responsibility for providing direction and coordination of legislation in which the Caucus has an interest;
 
 Providing office staff and support to Caucus members;

 Representing the Caucus in all matters affecting state government;

 Serving as a liaison for the Caucus with Senate Democrats;

Serving as a chief negotiator and liaison with the governor and Republican legislative leaders;

 Speaking on behalf of the Caucus;

 Appointing Caucus members to serve in various leadership roles;

 Presiding over meetings of the Caucus;

 Developing and coordinating fundraising activities on behalf of the Caucus;

 Assigning leadership responsibilities to Caucus members.


 

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