Lauren Book Explained

Lauren Book
Office:Minority Leader of the Florida Senate
Term Start:April 28, 2021
Predecessor:Gary Farmer
State Senate1:Florida
District1:35th
Term Start1:November 8, 2016
Predecessor1:Redistricted
Birth Name:Lauren Frances Book
Birth Date:12 October 1984
Birth Place:Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:University of Miami (BA, MS)
Spouse:Blair Byrnes (m.2015)
Children:2

Lauren Frances Book (born October 12, 1984) is an American politician and former educator who has served in the Florida Senate since 2016, representing parts of Broward County. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been the Senate's minority leader since April 28, 2021.

Early life and education

Book was born in Hollywood, Florida, in 1984 to Patricia "Pat" Book, a former chocolate retailer, and Ron Book, a lawyer and lobbyist.[1] [2] [3] She is the oldest of three siblings. Book was sexually abused as a child over the course of six years by her nanny.[4] She developed anorexia as a result of the abuse. In 2002, the nanny pleaded guilty to five felony charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, later extended to 25 years.[5] [6] In 2007, Book created a charity, Lauren's Kids, to fight for stronger penalties for sex offenders.[7]

Book graduated from the University of Miami in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. Following graduation, she taught for one year in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.[8]

Since 2010, Book has annually led "Walk in My Shoes", a 1500miles walk from Key West, to Tallahassee, Florida.[9] She has written two books: Lauren's Kingdom and It's OK to Tell: A Story of Hope and Recovery.[10] [11] [12] She designed an abuse prevention curriculum for implementation in Florida kindergartens.

In 2012, Book was awarded her master's degree in community psychology from the University of Miami.[13] [14]

Career

Book ran unopposed for the 32nd district seat in the Florida Senate in 2016.[15] In the 2017 session, Book filed a bill that would remove Confederate Memorial Day, celebrated on April 26, 2017, from Florida's list of 21 legal holidays.[16] Her bill would also remove the birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis as official state holidays.[16] Book told CBS4, "during a time when the country is completely divided, I think we look at celebrating our unique coming together instead of some of the things that kind of create hate and divisive environments."[17]

On July 22, 2019, Book wrote Florida governor Ron DeSantis a letter requesting a probe into how the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office handled a work release program for Jeffrey Epstein. Following her request, Book reported that she began receiving calls from political supporters of Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, asking her to drop the request for an inquiry. The Miami Herald reported that Book also received multiple anonymous calls and texts with more ominous demands to halt her request for a probe.[18]

Book voted[19] against the controversial Florida Senate Bill 86, which would have changed implementation and administration of the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

After the Democrats' incoming Senate leader for 2022–24, Bobby Powell, decided to run for Congress, the Democratic caucus unanimously chose Book to be its leader for the 2022–24 legislature.[20] A week later, on April 28, 2021, the Democratic caucus chose Book to serve immediately as minority leader, following a no-confidence vote in then-leader Gary Farmer.[21]

In 2022, Book faced a primary challenger, former Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief. The race devolved into a bitter battle between the two candidates, and Book's absenteeism from her district was made an issue by the Sharief campaign. Book ultimately won her primary, after being endorsed by Broward County Commissioner Steven A. Geller, the Sierra Club,[22] the South Florida Sun Sentinel,[23] the Florida Education Association,[24] Pembroke Pines Democratic Club President Lourdes Diaz and Democratic activist Charles Horowitz. Notably, the Sentinel's endorsement was made with "little enthusiasm" because of the nastiness of the race.[23]

On April 3, 2023, Book was arrested alongside Nikki Fried, the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, following a protest of an anti-abortion bill being considered by state lawmakers.[25] The bill would ban abortions after six weeks. Book and ten others were arrested for trespassing after the Tallahassee Police Department instructed them to disperse by sunset, which they did not do.

Personal life

Book married Kris Lim, a professional golfer, in 2008;[4] their wedding was featured on We TV's Platinum Weddings. They divorced in 2010.[4] In 2015, she married Blair Byrnes.[26] They are the parents of twins, born on February 16, 2017.

In 2021, a 19-year-old Floridian was charged with cyberstalking and attempting to extort Book, threatening to release nude images of her.[27] Book later learned that the images have been bought and sold since 2020.[28]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Walking under Tuttle Causeway, sex abuse victim, daughter of powerful Florida lobbyist, says predator laws may have backfired. Brown. Julie. March 31, 2012. The Palm Beach Post. July 25, 2019.
  2. News: The Lobbyist Who Put Sex Offenders Under a Bridge. Skipp. Catharine. July 24, 2009. Newsweek Magazine. July 25, 2019.
  3. Web site: Activist Lauren Book to run for Florida Senate. South Florida. Sun-Sentinel. September 2015 . November 16, 2016.
  4. Web site: As Lauren Book Hints at Run, Some Question if Her Charity Could Become Political Tool. Deirdra. Funcheon. February 18, 2015. November 16, 2016.
  5. News: Sexual Abuse: What Finally Made It 'Ok To Tell'. Martin. Michelle. April 9, 2012. National Public Radio. July 25, 2019.
  6. Web site: Ex-Nanny Sentenced in Sex Abuse Case.
  7. Web site: Lauren Book to be honored for her work in speaking out against childhood sexual abuse. . November 16, 2016.
  8. News: Senator turned her trauma into action: now she's showing Douglas students how. Klas. Mary Ellen. February 22, 2018. The Miami Herald. July 25, 2019.
  9. Web site: Lauren Book finishes 1,500-mile "Walk in My Shoes" across Florida. https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144612/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/lauren-book-finishes-1500-mile-walk-my-shoes-across-florida. dead. November 17, 2016. November 16, 2016.
  10. Web site: Lauren Book, Running Unopposed, Raises $1.3 Million Despite Criticisms. Deirdra. Funcheon. March 29, 2016. November 16, 2016.
  11. Book: Book, Lauren. It's OK to Tell: A Story of Hope and Recovery. Prospecta Press, Easton Studio Press. 2011. 978-1935212430.
  12. Book: Book, Lauren. Lauren's Kingdom. Sweetwater Press. 2015. 978-1492466574. registration.
  13. Web site: Child abuse prevention: Warning signs every parent must look for. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122211700/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfp-child-abuse-prevention-warning-signs-every-parent-must-look-for-20150916-story.html. dead. January 22, 2022. Sun-Sentinel. September 16, 2015. April 20, 2022.
  14. Web site: Bell . Maya . Lauren's Gift of Hope . Magazine.miami.edu . 2022-02-26 . 2022-04-20.
  15. Web site: Senator-elect Lauren Book thanks voters, community with kids' book distribution - SaintPetersBlog. October 18, 2016. November 16, 2016.
  16. Web site: Sen. Lauren Book proposes eliminating Confederate holiday. August 27, 2017 . Tallahassee Democrat . September 2, 2017 .
  17. Web site: LATEST: Florida senator files bill to ban Confederate holidays . Nortunen . Sandra . August 27, 2017 . The Palm Beach Post . September 2, 2017 .
  18. News: Lawmaker says she's been told to back off call for probe of Jeffrey Epstein's work release. Brown. Julie K.. July 25, 2019. The Miami Herald. July 25, 2019. Nehamas. Nicholas.
  19. Web site: Florida Senate Vote Record, Senate Bill 86, 2021 Regular Session.
  20. Web site: Book wins backing as Senate Democratic leader, will forgo statewide run in 2022. .
  21. News: Hayes. Kelly. 2021-04-28. Senate Democrats sack Gary Farmer . Florida Politics.
  22. https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/blog/2022/06/sierra-club-florida-endorses-senate-minority-leader-lauren-book
  23. Web site: Endorsement: Democrat Lauren Book in derailed Florida Senate race . July 29, 2022 .
  24. Web site: Lauren Book's bid for re-election wins teacher's union endorsement . July 6, 2022 .
  25. News: 2023-04-05 . Two Democratic officials among 11 arrested at protest against Florida's abortion ban . en-GB . . 2023-04-13 . 0261-3077.
  26. Web site: Lauren Book Quietly Remarries (Check out the Gift Registry). Smith. Nancy. July 14, 2015. November 16, 2016.
  27. Web site: Man Accused of Sexually Harassing Florida State Senator – NBC 6 South Florida . Nbcmiami.com . 2021-12-03 . 2022-04-20.
  28. Web site: Associated . The . Florida state Sen. Lauren Book fights back over nude images stolen from her . Nbcnews.com . January 26, 2022. 2022-04-20.