Jim Stork
Encyclopedia
Jim Stork is an American businessman and politician from Florida.
Stork was born in Gainesville, Florida
and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina
. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, and moved to New York City, where he became a salesman for Campbell Laboratories. Stork successfully landed Campbell's flagship product, the Herpecin cold sore remedy, on the shelves of Wal-Mart
, which won him a promotion to chief operating officer. He briefly became president of the company in 1995 following the death of its founder; the company was then liquidated in keeping with the founder's will.
Stork then moved to Wilton Manors, Florida
; where he opened Stork's Cafe and Bakery. The restaurant became popular after its opening in 1997, and Stork became a popular figure in the city's large gay community. He was elected mayor of Wilton Manors in 2002, succeeding John Fiore. Wilton Manors thus became the first city in the United States to elect two consecutive openly gay mayors.
Stork became romantic partners with Ron Ansin, a well-known Bostonian philanthropist and Democratic fundraiser, in 2002. The couple is very well known nationwide for their support of various social and political causes.
Stork announced his candidacy for Congress in 2004, running as the Democratic nominee against seven-term incumbent Clay Shaw. Stork raised more than $1 million from over 9000 contributors, and was poised to give Shaw only his third credible challenge ever. However, Stork was forced to drop out of the race in August 2004 due to a problematic heart
condition.
Stork was born in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and moved to New York City, where he became a salesman for Campbell Laboratories. Stork successfully landed Campbell's flagship product, the Herpecin cold sore remedy, on the shelves of Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, which won him a promotion to chief operating officer. He briefly became president of the company in 1995 following the death of its founder; the company was then liquidated in keeping with the founder's will.
Stork then moved to Wilton Manors, Florida
Wilton Manors, Florida
Wilton Manors is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,632. Wilton Manors is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census. Although the city is...
; where he opened Stork's Cafe and Bakery. The restaurant became popular after its opening in 1997, and Stork became a popular figure in the city's large gay community. He was elected mayor of Wilton Manors in 2002, succeeding John Fiore. Wilton Manors thus became the first city in the United States to elect two consecutive openly gay mayors.
Stork became romantic partners with Ron Ansin, a well-known Bostonian philanthropist and Democratic fundraiser, in 2002. The couple is very well known nationwide for their support of various social and political causes.
Stork announced his candidacy for Congress in 2004, running as the Democratic nominee against seven-term incumbent Clay Shaw. Stork raised more than $1 million from over 9000 contributors, and was poised to give Shaw only his third credible challenge ever. However, Stork was forced to drop out of the race in August 2004 due to a problematic heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
condition.
External links
- Congressional Campaign website, archived on 2004-09-05 before his withdrawal from the race.
- Congressional Campaign website, archived on 2004-09-20 after his withdrawal from the race.
- Stork's Cafe and Bakery
- Washington Post candidate profile, 2004