Sandy Adams (R-Fla.)

U.S. Representative (since January 2011)

(Florida House of Representatives)

Why She Matters

An Air Force veteran with 17 years of experience in the Orange County deputy sheriff's office, Adams describes herself as "no nonsense." It's an image she successfully translated to a win against freshman Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D), in Florida's hotly-contested 24th district in the 2010 midterms.

The Florida lawmaker first ran for office in 2002 and has been bringing her brand of law-and-order conservatism to voters ever since. Adams has voted for harsher criminal sanctions and proposed a bill that would allow Floridians to opt out of new health-care reform measures.

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Corrections?

Background

At a Glance

Career History: Member, Florida House of Representatives (January 2003 to January 2011); Investigator and Deputy Sheriff, Orange County Deputy Sheriff's Department, (1985-2002); United States Air Force
Birthday: December 14, 1956
Hometown: Wyandotte, Mich.
Alma Mater: Columbia College, B.A. 2000
Spouse: John H. Adams

Religion: Episcopal
Committees: House Science, Space and Technology Committee , House Judiciary Committee
DC Office: 216 Cannon HOBWashington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-2706
District Office: 1000 City Center CirlePort Orange, FL 32129Phone: (386) 756-9798
Web site

Path To Power

Sandra "Sandy" Adams was born in Wyandotte, Mich., on December 14, 1956, and moved to Florida in 1964. Raised in a military family, Adams joined the U.S. Air Force at age 17.

In 1985, Adams began working at the Orange County Deputy Sheriff's Department, where she would remain for 17 years, serving as both an investigator and a deputy sheriff. During this time, she met and married Deputy Frank Seton, who was later killed in the line of duty.

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The Issues

Adams is a down-the-line conservative who supports deregulation, tax cuts and the eventual elimination of the IRS. She focused her 2010 congressional run on fiscal conservatism, promising jobs and lower taxes for Florida's 24th district. Space Coast residents (the district is home to the Kennedy Space Center) are particularly concerned with job loss as many will be affected by upcoming layoffs at at the Kennedy Space Center.

As a state representative, Adams garnered a conservative voting record on social and reproductive issues. She voted against funding for stem-cell research, and for legislation that makes obtaining an abortion more difficult by requiring pre-abortion ultrasounds and a 24-hour waiting period.

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The Network

Adams has received endorsements for her 2010 congressional run from the National Rifle Association, Florida Right to Life, the American Conservative Union and the National Tax Limitation Committee. She also has the support of many Florida Republican state legislators.

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