Scott Franklin (politician)

Clifford Scott Franklin (born August 23, 1964)[1][2] is an American politician and businessman who is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 15th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Scott Franklin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 15th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byRoss Spano
Member of the Lakeland City Commission
from the Southeast district
In office
January 1, 2018 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byEdie Yates
Succeeded byDon Selvage
Personal details
Born (1964-08-23) August 23, 1964
Thomaston, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Amy Wood
Children3
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (MBA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy

Early life and career

Born in Thomaston, Georgia, Franklin was raised in Lakeland, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 and served in the United States Navy as a Naval Aviator flying the S-3 Viking off of multiple aircraft carriers and routinely deploying overseas.[3][4][5] Franklin later earned a Master of Business Administration from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College.[6]

Career

He spent a total of 26 years in the Navy, 14 on active duty and 12 in the Naval Reserve, to include being mobilized/recalled to active duty with U.S. Central Command following the Al Qaeda attack on the United States of September 11, 2001. He retired in the rank of Commander.[7][3]

Franklin joined Lanier Upshaw, an insurance company, in 2000, and became its chief executive officer.[8] In 2017, Franklin was elected as a city commissioner for the Southeast district of Lakeland, Florida, succeeding longtime incumbent Edie Yates.[9] As a result of his run for Congress, Franklin was required to resign his seat on the city commission; he chose to make his resignation effective for January 3, 2021, the day he will be sworn into Congress.[10] Franklin will be succeeded on the city commission by Don Selvage, a former commissioner who will hold the seat as an interim appointee from January 4 until the April 6 special election to fill the vacancy.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 15

In March 2020, Franklin announced his primary bid against freshman congressman Ross Spano, who was facing investigation by federal investigators over financial irregularities.[12] In the 2020 Republican primary for Florida's 15th congressional district, Franklin defeated Spano and received his party’s nomination for the general election.[13][14] Franklin defeated Alan Cohn in the general election.[15]

Committee assignments

Electoral history
Lakeland City Commissioner Southeast district election, 2017[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Scott Franklin 8,394 64.6
Nonpartisan Sandy Toledo 4,604 35.4
Total votes 12,998 100.0
Florida's 15th congressional district Republican primary, 2020[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Franklin 30,736 51.2
Republican Ross Spano (incumbent) 29,265 48.8
Total votes 60,001 100.0
Florida's 15th congressional district election, 2020[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Franklin 216,374 55.4
Democratic Alan Cohn 174,297 44.6
Total votes 390,671 100.0
Republican hold

References
  1. Choi, Joseph (November 30, 2020). "Rep.-elect Scott Franklin (R-Fla.-15)". The Hill. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. "Scott Franklin". Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  3. "Scott Franklin for Congress". www.votescottfranklin.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  4. "Scott Franklin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. Kimberly C. Moore (November 19, 2018). "Commission confirms money for monument move - News - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Ledger. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  6. "Commissioner Scott Franklin". City of Lakeland. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. John Ceballos (December 29, 2016). "Lanier Upshaw Insurance commemorates 75 years in business - News - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  9. John Chambliss (November 7, 2017). "Scott Franklin cruises to victory in Lakeland's Southeast race". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  10. Sara-Megan Walsh (September 20, 2020). "Interim Lakeland commissioner sought to fill Franklin's seat". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  11. Sara-Megan Walsh (October 6, 2020). "Selvage to serve second time as Lakeland's interim commissioner". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  12. "Lakeland Commissioner files to challenge Rep. Ross Spano in GOP primary". Tampa Bay Times. March 17, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  13. "Scott Franklin ousts Ross Spano in 15th Congressional District primary". Tampa Bay Times. August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  14. Mazzei, Patricia; Shear, Michael D.; Newman, Andy (August 19, 2020). "Representative Ross Spano of Florida loses Republican primary". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  15. Taylor, Janelle Irwin (November 4, 2020). "Scott Franklin holds onto CD 15 for the GOP, bests Alan Cohn". Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. "Franklin Tapped to Serve on House Armed Services Committee | Representative Scott Franklin". franklin.house.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  17. "Franklin Tapped to Serve on Oversight and Reform Committee | Representative Scott Franklin". franklin.house.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  18. "2017 November Municipal Election". Polk County Supervisor of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  19. "August 18, 2020 Primary Election Official Results". Florida Department of State - Division of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  20. "November 3, 2020 General Election". Florida Department of State. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ross Spano		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 15th congressional district
2021–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Scott L. Fitzgerald		 United States Representatives by seniority
392nd		 Succeeded by
Andrew Garbarino
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