Holly Benson
Encyclopedia
Anna Holliday "Holly" Benson (born June 1, 1971) was a member of the Florida House of Representatives
. In November 2000, Benson became the first Republican
elected to the District 3 seat, succeeding Democrat
DeeDee Ritchie. On December 28, 2006, Florida's Governor-elect Charlie Crist
appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
. On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives
, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida. In February , 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
(A.B., 1993) and the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
(J.D., 1996). Benson was employed as a municipal bond lawyer, prior to her appointment to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in December 2006. In 2008, Benson took over as secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. She replaced Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, who is separating from the Administration after a little more than year on the job, to return to the private sector in Washington state. Agwunobi stated "It's with great sadness that we're announcing my departure today. Unfortunately my plans to relocate my family to Tallahassee have not worked," he said.
Reform. Benson also chaired the Select Committee on Article V, which was tasked with implementing a 1998 constitutional amendment that required a major overhaul of the Florida state court system.
On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives
, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida.
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...
. In November 2000, Benson became the first 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...
elected to the District 3 seat, succeeding Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
DeeDee Ritchie. On December 28, 2006, Florida's Governor-elect 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...
appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the agency of the government of Florida responsible for business and professional regulation.-Organization:*Professional Regulation...
. On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives
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...
, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida. In February , 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
Personal background
Benson was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and moved to Miami, Florida in 1976. She is a graduate of Pensacola's Booker T. Washington High School (1989), Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
(A.B., 1993) and the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
University 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...
(J.D., 1996). Benson was employed as a municipal bond lawyer, prior to her appointment to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in December 2006. In 2008, Benson took over as secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. She replaced Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, who is separating from the Administration after a little more than year on the job, to return to the private sector in Washington state. Agwunobi stated "It's with great sadness that we're announcing my departure today. Unfortunately my plans to relocate my family to Tallahassee have not worked," he said.
Legislative service
Representative Benson previously served in the Florida House of Representatives as the Chair of the Health and Families Council, as well as Co-Chair of the Select Committee on MedicaidMedicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
Reform. Benson also chaired the Select Committee on Article V, which was tasked with implementing a 1998 constitutional amendment that required a major overhaul of the Florida state court system.
On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives
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...
, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida.
Previous council and committee memberships
- Health and Family Council (Chair)
- Select Committee on Medicaid Reform (Co-Chair)
- Fiscal Council
- Governmental Operations Committee
- Growth Management Committee
- Health Care Appropriations Committee
- Rules and Calendar Council