Cord Byrd | |
---|---|
31st Secretary of State of Florida | |
Assumed office May 16, 2022 | |
Governor | Ron DeSantis |
Preceded by | Laurel Lee |
Member of the FloridaHouseofRepresentatives from the 11th district | |
In office November 8,2016 –May 16,2022 | |
Preceded by | Janet H. Adkins |
Succeeded by | Sam Garrison |
Personal details | |
Born | Jacksonville,Florida,U.S. | April 19,1971
Political party | Republican |
Education | United States Air Force Academy University of North Florida (BA) St. Thomas University (JD) |
James Cord Byrd (born April 19,1971) is an American attorney and Republican politician serving as the secretary of state of Florida. [1] Previously,he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives,representing Nassau County and part of Duval County from 2016 until his appointment as secretary of state. [2] [3] [4]
Byrd was born in Jacksonville,Florida. He attended the United States Air Force Academy for one year before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from the University of North Florida. [4] In 1997,he earned a Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law. [5]
Byrd worked as an attorney at Leal &Ring,P.A from 1997 to 2004 and Gonzalez &Porcher from 2004 to 2007. Since 2007,he has operated an independent legal practice. [6] Byrd was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. During his tenure,Byrd served as vice chair of the Public Integrity &Elections Committee during the 2019–2020 legislative session and vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee,in the 2021–2022 legislative session. [7]
In 2019,Byrd sponsored a bill banning sanctuary cities in Florida. In April of that year the Florida House passed the bill with 69–47 nearly along party lines. [8] [9]
In May 2022,Governor Ron DeSantis selected Byrd to succeed Laurel Lee as secretary of state of Florida. [10]
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