A Representative from Florida; born in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, on November 5, 1942; B.A., Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.; M.A., University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.; elementary school principal; member of the Miami-Dade County school board; member of the Florida state house of representatives, 1998-2002; member of the Florida state senate, 2002-2010; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Twelfth and to the succeeding Congress (January 3, 2011-present).