Carole Green

Carole Green
Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs
In office
March 1, 2005 – November 14, 2006
Preceded bySusan Tucker (interim)
Succeeded byCharles Corley (interim)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 75th district
In office
November 3, 1998 – November 2, 2004
Preceded byRalph L. Livingston
Succeeded byTrudi Williams
Personal details
Born (1952-02-14) February 14, 1952
Vandalia, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJohn Milton "Jack" Green
Residence(s)Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
EducationMallinckrodt Institute of Radiation Oncology, Washington University in St. Louis
OccupationHealth care administrator, radiation therapist

Carole Green (born February 14, 1952) is a Republican politician and health care administrator who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 75th District from 1998 to 2004, and as Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs from 2005 to 2006.

Early life and career

Green was born in Vandalia, Illinois. She attended the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiation Oncology at Washington University and worked as a radiation therapist. She moved to Florida in 1987,[1] and began volunteering at the county hospital, and served as the chairwoman of the fundraising board at the county's children's hospital.

In 1994, Green ran for the Lee County Hospital Board of Directors from District 2, which included eastern Cape Coral and western Fort Myers. She challenged incumbent Board members Mark Abels and Frances Fenning for re-election, along with James English, a retired Episcopal priest. Green waged an active campaign, outraising her opponents and conducting door-to-door canvassing.[2] Green and English ultimately prevailed,[3] with Green receiving 36 percent of the vote to English's 23 percent, Fenning's 22 percent, and Abels's 19 percent.[4]

Florida House of Representatives

In 1998, Republican State Representative Ralph Livingston opted to run for the State Senate rather than seek re-election to the State House. Green ran to succeed him in the 75th district, which included Bonita Springs, southeastern Cape Coral, southern Fort Myers, and northern Collier County.[5] She faced former Lee County Commissioner Donald Slisher and engineer Laurie Swanson in the Republican primary.[6] Green won by a wide margin, receiving 56 percent of the vote to Slisher's 23 percent and Swanson's 21 percent,[7] avoiding the need for a runoff election. Because no other candidates filed, Green won the general ele[8]

Green ran for re-election in 2000 and faced only a write-in campaign from Mark Nerenstone, the former Chairman of the Lee County Democratic Party, who qualified for the ballot as "Mark" to avoid voter confusion over his last name.[9] She won re-election easily, receiving 99.7 percent of the vote.[10] In 2004, she was challenged by attorney Aaron O'Brien, the Libertarian nominee.[11] She defeated O'Brien in a landslide, winning 82 percent of the vote to his 18 percent.[12]

2004 congressional campaign

In 2003, Republican Congressman Porter Goss announced that he would not seek re-election in 2004, and Green announced that she would run to succeed him.[13] In the Republican primary, Green faced former State Representative Connie Mack IV, who resigned his Fort Lauderdale-based seat and moved back to Lee County to run;[14] Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy;[15] and cardiologist Frank Schwerin.[16]

Green was endorsed by The News-Press, which praised her as "a politician of solidly conservative principles but with an independent mind capable of grappling with complex issues," and as "a practical conservative, brainy and energetic."[17] Mack, the son of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack III, received support from prominent national Republicans,[18] and significantly outraised his opponents.[19]

Mack narrowly defeated Green,[20] winning 36 percent of the vote to her 32 percent, while Coy received 22 percent and Schwerin 10 percent.[21]

Secretary of Elder Affairs

On November 16, 2004, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Green as the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Policy in the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.[22] After Bush fired the Secretary of the Department, Terry White, for sexual harassment on January 5, 2005,[23] Bush appointed Green as Secretary on March 1, 2005.[24] Green served as Secretary pending Senate confirmation,[25] which occurred several weeks later.[26]

Following the election of Governor Charlie Crist in 2006, Green stepped down from office.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Carole Green". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Clayton, Betsy (November 6, 1994). "Hospital battle waged in obscurity". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 2B. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Clayton, Betsy (November 8, 1994). "Hospital volunteer, priest win". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 8. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "GENERAL ELECTION LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 8, 1994 - Summary Report: Press Report" (PDF). Lee County Supervisor of Elections. 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  5. ^ Ruane, Don (May 14, 1998). "Hospital board member sets run for Legislature". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 2B. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Partington, Karie (August 21, 1998). "Three Republicans vie for state House seat". Naples Daily News. p. 3DC. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "September 1, 1998 Primary Election - Republican Primary - Official Results - State Representative - District: 75". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 1998. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Partington, Karie (September 2, 1998). "Green garners win over Slisher and Swanson". Naples Daily News. p. 7AMC. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Ash, Jim (August 28, 2000). "Incumbents jump ahead in fund raising". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 1B, 2B. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "November 7, 2000 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 75". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2000. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  11. ^ Whitehead, Charlie (July 26, 2002). "Libertarian Party's statewide effort nets results in SW Florida". Naples Daily News. p. 1A, 12AC. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "November 5, 2002 General Election - Official Results - State Representative - District: 75". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2002. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Whitehead, Charlie (October 17, 2003). "State Rep. Carol Green joins race for Goss' seat". Naples Daily News. p. 1D. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Parker, Betty (October 7, 2003). "Young Mack moving to Lee for Congress bid". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Parker, Betty (September 11, 2003). "Coy announces official plan to run for Congress". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Zollo, Cathy (January 17, 2004). "Collier doctor announces run for Congress". Naples Daily News. p. 1D. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Green is best for Congress". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. August 28, 2004. p. B10. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Eskovitz, Joel (January 31, 2004). "GOP gives Mack $40,000 for congressional race". Naples Daily News. p. 1D. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Wheeler, Larry (July 16, 2004). "Mack leads fund-raising race". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Parker, Betty (September 1, 2004). "Mack holds off Green". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "August 31, 2004 Primary Election - Republican Primary - Official Results - United States Representative - District: 14". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  22. ^ Foerster, Jonathan (November 17, 2004). "Carole Green appointed to state health position". Naples Daily News. p. 4DC. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Kennedy, John (January 6, 2005). "Chief of elder affairs fired". Orlando Sentinel. p. B1. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Peltier, Michael (March 1, 2005). "Green tapped by Gov. Bush to head elder affairs agency". Naples Daily News. p. 3BC. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Parker, Betty (April 21, 2005). "Panel endorses former lawmaker for job". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. B4. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Peltier, Michael (April 25, 2005). "Green to head department for elderly". Naples Daily News. p. 1B. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Elder affairs secretary steps down". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. November 15, 2006. p. B2. Retrieved August 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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