Glenda Hood
Encyclopedia
Glenda Evans Hood is a U.S. politician, who was Secretary of State of Florida
, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando (1992–2003).
A Republican
, Hood served as a district commissioner for the City of Orlando
from 1982 to 1992, when she was elected Mayor. She was re-elected to 4-year terms as mayor in 1996 and 2000. Before her election to the Orlando City Council, she had served as Vice-Chairman of the Municipal Planning Board and Zoning Commission, member of the Nominating Board and Chairman of the Task Force on Board and Commission Restructure. She also has served as President of the National League of Cities
, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce
.
Hood's time as mayor coincided with Linda Chapin
's chairmanship of the Orange County
Commission, a time when feminine influence over local politics was at an all-time high. The two women, along with state senator (and future lieutenant governor) Toni Jennings
and Dianna Fuller Morgan
(Walt Disney World's Senior Vice President for Community and Government Relations), were recognized as the leaders of the local "old girl network." They formed close friendships despite surface political differences, and even took annual Christmas shopping trips to New York City together.
In January 2003, at the start of his second term as Governor, Florida Governor Jeb Bush
appointed Hood to the office of Secretary of State of Florida. She was Florida's first non-elected Secretary of State, serving in the position from January 2003 until November 21, 2005. In March 2003, it was reported that Bush would appoint her as the new lieutenant governor to succeed Frank Brogan
, who resigned. Bush instead named her old friend Jennings as lieutenant governor.
As Secretary of State she was at the center of controversy over her management of elections, including her order that voter registrations be invalidated as "incomplete" when the box for "US Citizen
" was not checked, even though applicants signed the cards with a statement attesting they were citizens.
Hood currently serves on the board of the national profit Afterschool Alliance
, an organization that works to support after school programs for all children.
Hood endorsed former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney
in the 2008 presidential election.
, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She also completed a program at Harvard University
’s Kennedy School of Government.
Married to Charles Hood, she has three grown children (Monty, Ellis and Evans Hood) and several grandchildren.
In 2008, Hood was awarded the Mary Harriman
Community Leadership award by The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Hood is a member of the Junior League of Greater Orlando
and served as the League's President from 1982–1983.
Secretary of State of Florida
The Secretary of State of Florida is a constitutional officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established by the original 1838 state constitution....
, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando (1992–2003).
A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Hood served as a district commissioner for the City of Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
from 1982 to 1992, when she was elected Mayor. She was re-elected to 4-year terms as mayor in 1996 and 2000. Before her election to the Orlando City Council, she had served as Vice-Chairman of the Municipal Planning Board and Zoning Commission, member of the Nominating Board and Chairman of the Task Force on Board and Commission Restructure. She also has served as President of the National League of Cities
National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues....
, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is an organization devoted to the advocacy of private businesses in the state of Florida.This Chamber originated in 1912, and included its first continuing group in 1916, the Florida Tick Eradication Committee...
.
Hood's time as mayor coincided with Linda Chapin
Linda Chapin
Linda Welch Chapin, a Florida politician, was the first chairman of the Orange County Commission and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives....
's chairmanship of the Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
Commission, a time when feminine influence over local politics was at an all-time high. The two women, along with state senator (and future lieutenant governor) Toni Jennings
Toni Jennings
Antoinette "Toni" Jennings was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Florida. She was nominated to the office by Governor Jeb Bush in February 2003 to replace Frank Brogan, who resigned to become president of Florida Atlantic University. She was sworn in on March 3, 2003, becoming the first woman to...
and Dianna Fuller Morgan
Dianna Fuller Morgan
Dianna Fuller Morgan was the Senior Vice President of Walt Disney World. She is currently the chairman of the University of Florida Board of Trustees...
(Walt Disney World's Senior Vice President for Community and Government Relations), were recognized as the leaders of the local "old girl network." They formed close friendships despite surface political differences, and even took annual Christmas shopping trips to New York City together.
In January 2003, at the start of his second term as Governor, Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
appointed Hood to the office of Secretary of State of Florida. She was Florida's first non-elected Secretary of State, serving in the position from January 2003 until November 21, 2005. In March 2003, it was reported that Bush would appoint her as the new lieutenant governor to succeed Frank Brogan
Frank Brogan
Frank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida...
, who resigned. Bush instead named her old friend Jennings as lieutenant governor.
As Secretary of State she was at the center of controversy over her management of elections, including her order that voter registrations be invalidated as "incomplete" when the box for "US Citizen
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
" was not checked, even though applicants signed the cards with a statement attesting they were citizens.
Hood currently serves on the board of the national profit Afterschool Alliance
Afterschool Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is "to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs." It uses communications and advocacy strategies to try to increase public and private investments in afterschool programs...
, an organization that works to support after school programs for all children.
Hood endorsed former Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
in the 2008 presidential election.
Biographical details
A fourth-generation Floridian, Hood was born in Orlando and graduated from Oak Ridge High School there. She attended Rollins CollegeRollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She also completed a program at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s Kennedy School of Government.
Married to Charles Hood, she has three grown children (Monty, Ellis and Evans Hood) and several grandchildren.
In 2008, Hood was awarded the Mary Harriman
Mary Harriman Rumsey
Mary Harriman Rumsey was the founder of The Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements, later known as the Junior League of the City of New York of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Mary was the daughter of railroad magnate, E.H. Harriman and sister to W...
Community Leadership award by The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
Hood is a member of the Junior League of Greater Orlando
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
and served as the League's President from 1982–1983.