Mike Haridopolos

Mike Haridopolos was a Republican member of the Florida State Senate, representing the 20th District, which included Brevard, Indian River, Osceola, and St. Lucie Counties, from 2003-2012. He served as President of the Florida Senate from 2010 to 2012, presiding over the largest Republican majority since Reconstruction.

Early Life and Education

Haridopolos was born in Huntington, New York. He graduated from Stetson University in 1992 with a B.A. in History, and in 1993 earned a Masters in History at the University of Arkansas. Later that year, at the age of twenty-three, he became a history instructor at Brevard Community College (BCC), and within three years he was named the Department Chair of Social Behavioral Sciences. In 1997, he was promoted to the Chair of the Liberal Arts Department at BCC. In an unusual arrangement, he was paid $152,000 to write a book for Brevard Community College in 2003. Only one copy of the book was produced.

Political career

Before being elected to the Senate, Haridopolos was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2001 through 2003. In 2006, he was on the shortlist to run for Lieutenant Governor of Florida as the running mate of Republican nominee Charlie Crist.