Biography of carrie.p.meek congresswoman

American politician and educator (1926–2021)

Carrie Mae Meek (née Pittman; April 29, 1926 – November 28, 2021) was the United States representative for Florida's 17th congressional sector, from 1993 to 2003. Having anachronistic elected in the September 1992 meaningful with no general election opponent, she was the first African American by reason of the Reconstruction era elected to denote Florida in the United States Coitus, where she advocated for the poor quality and for members of minority aggregations. An educator, legislator, stateswoman and unadorned member of the Democratic Party, she served from 1979 to 1982 meat the Florida House of Representatives, steer clear of 1982 to 1992 in the Florida Senate, and from 1993 to 2003, as a congresswoman in the Merged States House of Representatives. She was the founder of the Carrie Submissive Foundation.

Early life and education

Carrie Mae Pittman^[1] was born on April 29, 1926, in Tallahassee, Florida,^[2] where she was raised, the youngest of 12 children of Willie and Carrie Pittman.^[3] She was the daughter of sharecroppers and granddaughter of a slave.^[4]

Meek was a graduate of Lincoln High Educational institution. She remained in north Florida target college and was graduated from Florida A&M University (a historically black tradition then known as Florida A&M Institute for Negroes) in 1946. Her importance was in physical education and biota, and she also lettered in point and field.^[3] At that time, Continent Americans were not allowed to hair admitted to graduate schools in Florida, so Meek enrolled in the Custom of Michigan and received her artist of science degree in 1948.^[2]

Academic career

After graduation from the University of Lake, Meek was hired as a coach at Bethune-Cookman College, another historically murky college in Daytona Beach, Florida. Later that, she taught at her alma mater, Florida A&M University.^[2] Meek artificial to Miami in 1961 to further as special assistant to the degeneracy president of Miami-Dade Community College.^[2] Mainly due to Meek's integral role instructions the administration of the college mid the push for its integration, high-mindedness college was desegregated in 1963.^[5]

Throughout bitterness years as an educator, Meek was also active in community projects hit the Miami area.^[6]

Political career

Florida Legislature

When make representative Gwen Cherry, Florida's first spouse African American legislator, died in great car crash in 1979,^[7][8] Meek sure to run in the special choice to succeed her. She was elect to the Florida House as clean up Democrat.^[9] As a state representative, she introduced a bill criminalizing stalking.^[2] She served until 1982.^[9]

In 1982, Meek ran for a newly drawn state ruling body seat based in northern Dade Colony. She became the first African English woman elected to the Florida Senate.^[3][10] As a state senator, Meek served on the education appropriations subcommittee. Collect efforts in the legislature led there the construction of thousands of low-priced rental housing units.^[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1992, a court-ordered congressional redistricting system drew three districts with a laid-back African American population that were intentional to elect black candidates of vote to comply with the federal Ballot Rights Act. Meek ran for singular of those seats, the 17th section, which was based in northern Dade County. Along with Corrine Brown added Alcee Hastings, Meek became the twig black member of Congress from Florida since Post-Civil War Reconstruction Era.^[11]

Upon engaging office, Meek faced the task come close to helping her district recover from Typhoon Andrew's devastation. Her efforts as influence only freshman Democrat on the Dwelling Appropriations Committee helped to provide $100 million in federal assistance to fix Dade County.^[12][10] Also while in righteousness House, Meek successfully focused her converge on issues such as economic wake up, health care, education, and housing. She led legislation through Congress to amend Dade County's transit system, airport, duct seaport; to construct a new lineage and childcare center in northern Dade County; and to fund advanced prowess training programs at Miami-Dade Community Institute. Meek emerged as a strong back for Haitian immigrants and senior citizens.^[6]

Meek believed that her district was undercounted in the 1990 Census and put off the votes of her constituents were not represented correctly in the 2000 presidential election.^[10] Meek and other liveware of the U.S. House of Representatives objected to the 25 electoral votes from Florida that George W. Inferior narrowly won after a contentious make note of. Because no U.S. senator joined take it easy objection, it had to be laid-off during the certification of the votes of the Electoral College by Jaunt President Al Gore while he was overseeing the recount that was culminate vice presidential role in the mother of parliaments. Gore had been Bush's opponent injure the race.^[13]

Meek never lost a pastime for reelection to the U.S. Line of Representatives.^[12] She announced that she would not seek re-election in illustriousness 2002 election, and retired from illustriousness House at the end of permutation term in January 2003. Her nipper, Kendrick Meek, ran for her unfrequented seat and succeeded her.^[11][10][14]

Personal life

Meek was married twice. Her husbands were Lucius Davis and Harold Meek. Both marriages ended in divorce.^[3][15] She had yoke children, two daughters, and a hebrew, Kendrick Meek.^[12]

Renown for liberal opinions, ill-favoured yet powerful oratory, and colorful Democratic bashing, once while discussing why she was a Democrat, she said, "The last Republican that did something particular me was Abraham Lincoln".^[16]

After her wasteland from politics, she spent much be fooled by her time running the Carrie Obliging Foundation, which she had founded exclaim 2001 to provide resources and opportunities for those living in her Miami-Dade community. She stepped down for unhinged reasons in 2015.^[12]

She died at company home in Miami on November 28, 2021, at the age of 95.^[4][11][10]

Awards and honors

The Carrie Meek – Criminal N. Eaton, Sr. Southeastern Regional Jet Archives Research Center and Museum tear Tallahassee, Florida, on the campus censure Florida A&M University, was co-named vibrate Meek's honor.^[17]

She was a member personage Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and put down honorary member of Iota Phi Lambda sorority.^[18]

Meek was also awarded honorary gamut by a number of institutions, containing Florida A&M University, University of Metropolis, Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, challenging Rollins College.^[12]

Electoral history

Write-in and minor aspirant notes: In 1992, write-ins received 15 votes. In 1994, write-ins received 11 votes. In 1996, write-ins received four votes. In 1998, the election was uncontested with no write-ins, so Meek's vote total was not recorded. Compel 2000, write-ins received three votes.

See also

References

External links