John E. Thrasher
Encyclopedia
John E. Thrasher is a Republican
member of the Florida Senate
, a body in which he represents the 8th District. Senator Thrasher currently represents Florida District 8, which includes parts of Duval
, Flagler
, Nassau
, St. Johns
and Volusia
Counties. Most recently, Senator Thrasher served as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida
from January 2010, through January 2011, where he oversaw an historic Election Cycle where Republicans swept all statewide races and picked up historic gains in the Florida Senate, Florida House and Florida's Congressional Delegation.
. In 1992 he was elected to his first term as a state representative and was re-elected without opposition in 1994, 1996, and 1998. On November 17, 1998, the House of Representatives unanimously elected John Thrasher as [Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives|Speaker of the House] for the 1999 through 2000 term.
, championing historic legislation, such as “Three Strikes, You're Out,” “10-20-Life,” “A+ Education Plan” and the largest tax cut in Florida history. Senator Thrasher was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1992 and was subsequently re-elected three times.
. Thrasher defeated Ponte Vedra political activist Dan Quiggle, Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham and former House Member Stan Jordan by garnering 39% or 13,247 votes in a four-way race. Thrasher later claimed official victory after the General Election on October 6, 2009.
In 2010, Thrasher defeated Charles Perniciaro in the Republican Primary by a vote of 61.8% to 38.2% and later Democrat Deborah Gianoulis, a retired television anchor, by a vote of 60.01% to 39.93% in the General Election on November 2, 2010.
, Thrasher won easily his election to become the next Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and promised to improve transparency, communications and relationships with party activists, and to raise $1 million in six weeks. By the time Thrasher completed his tenure as Chairman on January 15, 2011, he had accomplished everything he set out to do.
Under Thrasher's leadership, the party raised $54.7 million, easily topping the $50.8 million raised during the three Greer years and helped deliver a slew of victories at the ballot box.
Under his tenure, the party swept the Florida Cabinet races, picked up four U.S. House seats, won a U.S. Senate race and delivered a two-thirds majority in the Legislature. It also survived a nasty gubernatorial primary and won a tight victory in the general election.
Among his many accolades, John also served as a Florida co-chair for the George W. Bush for President Campaign in 2004 and is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florida State University. John was also honored by having the FSU Medical School
building named after him.
before joining the United States Army. He served first in Germany, where he received the Army Commendation Medal, and later in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars. John attained the rank of captain before his honorable discharge. John returned to Tallahassee and earned his law degree with honors from the Florida State University College of Law
.
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...
member of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, a body in which he represents the 8th District. Senator Thrasher currently represents Florida District 8, which includes parts of Duval
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
, Flagler
Flagler County, Florida
Flagler County was created in 1917 from portions of Saint Johns and Volusia counties. It was named for Henry Morrison Flagler, a famous railroad builder who built the Florida East Coast Railway. Bunnell is the county seat of Flagler County....
, Nassau
Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida....
, St. Johns
St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is a county located in northeastern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,039. The county seat is St. Augustine. Due to the inclusion of Ponte Vedra Beach, it is one of the highest-income counties in the United States....
and Volusia
Volusia County, Florida
Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 official county's population was 494,593 . Its county seat is DeLand, and its most populous city is currently Deltona....
Counties. Most recently, Senator Thrasher served as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida
Republican Party of Florida
The Republican Party of Florida is the official organization for Republicans in the state of Florida.-History:Florida politics was largely dominated by the Democrats until Richard Nixon's Southern Strategy, which took advantage of white objections to the advances of the American Civil Rights...
from January 2010, through January 2011, where he oversaw an historic Election Cycle where Republicans swept all statewide races and picked up historic gains in the Florida Senate, Florida House and Florida's Congressional Delegation.
Political career
John Thrasher began his political career in 1986 with his election to the Clay County School Board. He served as vice chairman, then chairman, of the board before running for the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida 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 1992 he was elected to his first term as a state representative and was re-elected without opposition in 1994, 1996, and 1998. On November 17, 1998, the House of Representatives unanimously elected John Thrasher as [Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives|Speaker of the House] for the 1999 through 2000 term.
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
From 1998 to 2000, Senator Thrasher served as the Speaker of the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida 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...
, championing historic legislation, such as “Three Strikes, You're Out,” “10-20-Life,” “A+ Education Plan” and the largest tax cut in Florida history. Senator Thrasher was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1992 and was subsequently re-elected three times.
Political Campaigns
On September 15, 2009, John Thrasher emerged victorious in his special Republican Primary bid to succeed the late Senator Jim KingJames E. King
James E. "Jim" King was an American businessman and politician. A Republican, he was a member of Florida House of Representatives from 1986 through 1999, and subsequently represented the 8th District of the Florida Senate from 1999 until his death...
. Thrasher defeated Ponte Vedra political activist Dan Quiggle, Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham and former House Member Stan Jordan by garnering 39% or 13,247 votes in a four-way race. Thrasher later claimed official victory after the General Election on October 6, 2009.
In 2010, Thrasher defeated Charles Perniciaro in the Republican Primary by a vote of 61.8% to 38.2% and later Democrat Deborah Gianoulis, a retired television anchor, by a vote of 60.01% to 39.93% in the General Election on November 2, 2010.
Florida Senate
Senator Thrasher currently serves as the Chairman of the Rules Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations. Additionally, he serves on the Budget, Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, Community Affairs, Judiciary, Reapportionment, Regulated Industries, and Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections.Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida
Within weeks of the resignation of disgraced chairman Jim Greer, the State Senator from St. Augustine was recruited to be the next chair. With the backing of his longtime ally, former Governor Jeb BushJeb 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...
, Thrasher won easily his election to become the next Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and promised to improve transparency, communications and relationships with party activists, and to raise $1 million in six weeks. By the time Thrasher completed his tenure as Chairman on January 15, 2011, he had accomplished everything he set out to do.
Under Thrasher's leadership, the party raised $54.7 million, easily topping the $50.8 million raised during the three Greer years and helped deliver a slew of victories at the ballot box.
Under his tenure, the party swept the Florida Cabinet races, picked up four U.S. House seats, won a U.S. Senate race and delivered a two-thirds majority in the Legislature. It also survived a nasty gubernatorial primary and won a tight victory in the general election.
Personal life
He was in private law practice in Daytona Beach and Tallahassee for several years before returning to Jacksonville to serve as general counsel of the Florida Medical Association, a position he held for 20 years. John served as Of Counsel to the Jacksonville law firm of Smith Hulsey & Busey from 1996 to 2008. John was a partner of Southern Strategy Group, a Tallahassee-based governmental relations firm, from January 1, 2001 to May 1, 2009.Among his many accolades, John also served as a Florida co-chair for the George W. Bush for President Campaign in 2004 and is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florida State University. John was also honored by having the FSU Medical School
Florida State University College of Medicine
The Florida State University College of Medicine, located in Tallahassee, Florida, is one of sixteen colleges comprising the Florida State University . The College is an accredited medical school, offering the Doctor of Medicine degree for physicians. The College of Medicine also offers a Ph.D....
building named after him.
Education
John grew up in Jacksonville and obtained his bachelor’s degree in business from Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
before joining the United States Army. He served first in Germany, where he received the Army Commendation Medal, and later in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars. John attained the rank of captain before his honorable discharge. John returned to Tallahassee and earned his law degree with honors from the Florida State University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law is the law school of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The law school's highly accomplished and accessible law faculty delivers a program that has an interdisciplinary orientation designed to produce well-rounded and effective lawyers.The law school...
.
Family
Senator Thrasher is married to his wife Jean and they have three children -Jennifer, Jon, Julie- and eight grandchildren.External links
- Thrasher Campaign website
- Florida State Legislature - Senator John Thrasher Official Government Website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator John Thrasher (FL) profile