TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Meek Throws Hat In Ring, Aiming For U.S. Senate

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: January 14, 2009

MIAMI - Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who led the effort to put class-size limits in the state constitution, is running for the U.S. Senate.

Meek, 42, announced his candidacy Tuesday at his suburban Miami home after listing a resume that includes his service as a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, eight years in the state Legislature and three terms in Congress.

"Public service and the commitment to making life better for the people of the state of Florida has been my mission," Meek said.

He's the first major candidate in the 2010 race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Mel Martinez.

Meek began public service shortly after graduating from Florida A&M University. After five years as a trooper, including two protecting then-Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay Jr., Meek was elected to the state House at age 27. He was elected to the state Senate four years later and in 2002 won the congressional seat his mother, Carrie, held for 10 years.

As a senator, he staged a sit-in protest in then-Gov. Jeb Bush's office complex over a proposal to strip affirmative action protections from state contracting and university admissions.

He and Bush later were at odds over the class-size amendment that passed in 2002. Meek led the petition drive to get the measure on the ballot and then traveled the state to promote it as Bush campaigned heavily against it during his re-election campaign.

The amendment requires class sizes of no more than 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade and 25 in high school, fully in effect in the 2010-11 school year. The Legislature also passed a law to phase in the requirements.

Meek cited the class-size campaign and the protest as examples of taking action for everyday people.

"I don't consider myself part of the Washington establishment," Meek said. "People know me as a person of the people."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT