Katherine Harris

Katherine Harris (born April 5 1957) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing the 13th District of Florida (map). She served as Florida's Secretary of State during the controversial Florida Recount of 2000. On June 7, 2005 she announced her candidacy for the United States Senate.

Biography

Harris was born in Key West, Florida to a wealthy and politically influential family. She was educated at Bartow High School in Bartow, Florida and at the University of Madrid in Spain; received her Bachelor's Degree in history from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia http://www.electharris.org/aboutkatherine/, and earned a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 1997 http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/02.07/14-harris.html, http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/programs/mpa/mpamc/. She was also a real estate broker, a member of the Florida State Senate from 1995-1998 and Florida Secretary of State (1999-2002) before entering the House. Her election to the Florida legislature was one of the most expensive Florida state races in history.

Related Topics:
Key West, Florida - Bartow High School - Bartow, Florida - University of Madrid - Spain - Agnes Scott College - Decatur, Georgia - Harvard University - Kennedy School of Government - Real estate - Florida State Senate - 1995 - 1998 - 1999 - 2002

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While she was Secretary of State, Harris presided over the contested Presidential election of 2000 in Florida. It was Harris who certified that the Republican candidate, George W. Bush, had carried the State of Florida, thus giving him the election over Al Gore. Her ruling was challenged, and was overturned on appeal by the Florida Supreme Court, but was upheld upon further appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. There were allegations of a conflict of interest since she was prominent in the Florida Bush campaign.

Related Topics:
Presidential election of 2000 - George W. Bush - Al Gore - Florida Supreme Court - Supreme Court of the United States

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Harris has been accused of acting in a partisan manner in conducting the Florida election count. No charges have ever been filed. In addition to her opposition to recounts in predominantly democractic counties, those who accuse Harris of acting in a partisan manner allege that:

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• Before the election, a firm hired by Harris in her capacity as Secretary of State to purge convicted felons from the voter rolls erroneously removed 8,000 registered voters who had been convicted only of misdemeanors, thousands of others who had the same names as felons, and a few whose computer records said they had committed crimes in the future. This led to her being nicknamed the Purge Princess
• Harris certified the election results from 20 of Florida's 67 counties, in accordance with state law. Subsequent machine and hand recounts confirmed a narrow Republican victory.
• Harris was much criticized for her insistence in following legal deadlines for ballot certifications.

Her book, Center of the Storm, gives her version of events.

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The 2000 election controversy was not the first time Ms. Harris faced allegations of misconduct. As Secretary of State, she was criticized for lavish spending on overseas travel.http://www.ichetucknee.org/harris.html Ms. Harris was accused of supporting preferential legislation for Riscorp, an insurance company whose wealthy CEO, Bill Griffin, lived in Harris' Senate district.http://www.sptimes.com/State/82598/Harris_backed_bill_ai.html Ms. Harris was also involved in introducing Mr. Griffin to the members of the Florida state legislature and received over $20,000 in donations from key Riscorp employees who had been given bonuses specifically to enable their donations.http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,399830,00.html Mr. Griffin pleaded guilty to felony counts involving illegal campaign donations and conspiracy and served prison time. The Riscorp scandal involved dozens of Florida state legislators and was among the largest scandals in recent Florida history, with Harris as the largest recipient of illegal donations, which she was eventually was forced to return. However, Harris was never charged with any crime and never admitted to any willful wrongdoing.

Related Topics:
2000 - Riscorp - CEO

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Harris was immortalized by comedienne Ana Gasteyer during the 2000-2001 season of Saturday Night Live. Harris was depicted as man-hungry, nakedly ambitious, and as wearing wardrobe and makeup that would put most drag queens to shame. http://snl.jt.org/imp.php?i=1203 Though her make-up was considered excessive by many, by the time of her Congressional campaign, Harris' look was softer and more subdued, leading some to believe she had plastic surgery. Harris has never spoken publicly about whether she had plastic surgery. It has also been alleged by Harris that newspapers doctored photographs of her, increasing the brightness of her make-up as a way to make fun of herhttp://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/04/State/Papers_doctor_her_pho.shtml. She declined to name which newspapers had allegedly done this.

Related Topics:
Ana Gasteyer - Saturday Night Live - Drag queens - Plastic surgery

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