Bill Hager

Bill Hager
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 89th district
Assumed office
November 20, 2012
Preceded by Jeff Clemens
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 87th district
In office
November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2012
Preceded by Adam Hasner
Succeeded by Dave Kerner
Personal details
Born (1947-02-06) February 6, 1947
Pipestone, Minnesota
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Children Mackenzie and Madison
Alma mater University of Northern Iowa (B.A.)
University of Hawaii (M.Ed.)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (J.D.)
Profession Attorney
Religion Presbyterian

Bill Hager (born February 6, 1947) is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 89th District, which stretches from Boca Raton to Palm Beach Shores in eastern Palm Beach County, since 2012, previously representing the 87th District from 2010 to 2012.

History

Hager was born in Pipestone, Minnesota, and later moved to Iowa, where he attended the University of Northern Iowa, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He then moved to Hawaii, where he worked as a middle school math teacher and attended the University of Hawaii, receiving his Master of Education in educational psychology in 1972. Hager then attended the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating with his Juris Doctor in 1974, and moved back to Iowa, where he worked as legal counsel to the Republican caucus in the Iowa House of Representatives in 1975. Hager then worked as an Assistant Attorney General and then as the state's Deputy Insurance Commissioner. He took a job working as chief of staff to United States Congressman Tom Tauke from 1979 to 1980, and then returned to his work in insurance, serving as the Insurance Commissioner of Iowa from 1986 to 1990. During his service as Insurance Commissioner, he was elected to the West Des Moines School Board. Hager then moved to the state of Florida in 1990, and was elected to the Boca Raton City Council in 2002 and served as the city's Deputy Mayor from 2004 to 2005.

Florida House of Representatives

When incumbent State Representative Adam Hasner was unable to seek re-election in 2010 due to term limits, Hager ran to succeed him in the 87th District, which stretched from Hypoluxo to Deerfield Beach in Broward County and Palm Beach County. He won the Republican primary uncontested and faced Hava Holzhauer, an assistant states attorney in the general election. The Palm Beach Post endorsed Hager over Holzhauer, calling him "the better candidate" despite his "near-obsessive focus on support for an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida" due to his other positions and Holzhauer's limited knowledge of the issues.[1]

In 2012, when the state's legislative districts were redrawn, Hager was moved into the 89th District, which included most of the territory that he had previously represented in the 87th District. He faced an unexpectedly strong challenge in Tom Gustafson, the Democratic nominee and a former State Representative who served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 1988 to 1990. Gustafson replaced Pamela Goodman, the previous nominee, after she withdrew due to her husband's deteriorating health, and he attacked Hager for being "a shill to the insurance industry" and a "puppet" for his party, noting, "Bill Hager hasn't had an original thought in his mind since he left Iowa."[2] The Sun-Sentinel praised both candidates as "highly qualified," but, "in a tough decision," endorsed Hager, praising him as "a knowledgable, open and accessible lawmaker."[3] Ultimately, Hager narrowly defeated Gustafson to earn his second term in the legislature, receiving 53% of the vote to Gustafson's 47%.

References

  1. ↑ Schultz, Randy (October 13, 2010). "Endorsement: House 87: To replace Hasner, Hager". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ Musgrove, Jane (September 22, 2012). "Former Democratic House speaker challenges GOP incumbent in new coastal District 89". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Choose Rader and Hager". Sun-Sentinel. October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2014.

External links

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