African-American firsts in the Legislature, and Jennifer Carroll
Your faithful Buzz contributor dropped a word while editing our story today on Jennifer Carroll's resignation. Carroll was not the first African-American Republican member of the Florida Legislature when she was elected in 2003. She was the first female African-American Republican member.
Several African-American Republicans, of course, were elected to the Legislature during the Reconstruction Era. We'll note that in a correction in tomorrow's newspaper.
But, we wondered: Was Carroll the first African-American GOP lawmaker post-Reconstruction, or Reconstruction Era?
No, it turns out.
John Plummer, a Miami African-American Republican, served one term in the Florida House from 1980-82. Interestingly, Plummer’s election appears to be a fluke. According to the Florida Handbook, Plummer avoided photographs and interviews during his campaign and there was voter confusion with another Plummer, who was a white Democrat and member of the House.
Florida shenanigans ...









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