LeAnna Cumber

Last updated
LeAnna Cumber
LeAnna Cumber Headshot 2022.jpg
Cumber in 2022
Member of the Jacksonville City Council
from the 5th district
In office
July 1, 2019 –June 30, 2023

LeAnna Maria Gutierrez Cumber (born February 3, 1973) is an American politician, lawyer and former teacher who served as a member of the Jacksonville City Council in Florida. Cumber previously served as a legislative counselor for the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation during the Presidency of George W. Bush.

Contents

Early life and education

Cumber was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While still in high school, she focused on issues involving rape and domestic violence. [1]

She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in government, moved to Nacogdoches, Texas and worked at a shelter for battered women. She later procured a position with the Nacogdoches Independent School District as a third-grade bilingual teacher. She also taught school for two years in rural east Texas, and then moved to Los Angeles and procured a position with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a fifth-grade bilingual teacher. [1]

In 2001, Cumber received her Juris Doctor degree from the USC Gould School of Law. While in law school, she worked with prisoners in the California Institute for Women, and federal maximum and minimum security facilities. She represented clients in civil matters ranging from child custody to parole hearings. [1]

Cumber's husband Husein is the Chief Strategy Officer for Florida East Coast Industries, LLC. (FECI). FECI is one of Florida's largest commercial real estate, transportation and infrastructure companies.[ citation needed ]

Career

After graduation from law school, Cumber went to work for the California Women’s Law Center where she advocated for policy changes in domestic violence and family law before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2002 where she began a career focused on transportation and homeland security policy. She is a member of the bar in both Washington, D.C. and California. [1]

Cumber began her legal career as a staffer in the United States Senate, and for the Office of the Inspector General (U.S. Department of Transportation). She also worked for Baker Botts LLP prior to starting a business of her own. [2]

Since 2010, Cumber has been the CEO of LeAnna Cumber & Associates, a transportation-consulting firm that provides assistance to private transportation companies and state and local governments in securing public grants and financing. [2]

In 2024, she joined Herzog, a leading rail and heavy/highway contractor across North America, as Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, she will work to "expand the organization's capabilities and reach, including assisting customers with obtaining project financing." [3]

City legislation

LeAnna was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, representing District 5, in January 2019 with no opposition and assumed office on July 1, 2019. [4] Her term ended June 30, 2023. She served on the Finance, Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committees, and Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health, and Safety Committees.

Cumber sponsored a city ordinance to prevent human trafficking in Jacksonville. [5] City leaders believe their city is a center for human trafficking as a result of its location. [6] [7] The ordinance requires all adult entertainment performers to be at least 21 years old and have a specific Performer Work ID. It also strongly encourages hotels and motels to post Human Trafficking Awareness information in every room. [8] [9] It created a sex trafficking survivors commission to advise the city on ways to eradicate sex trafficking in Jacksonville.

In September 2019, in response to rising levels of crime in and around the City’s internet cafes, [10] Cumber presented legislation calling for all simulated gambling devices to be declared illegal immediately. [11] [12] The bill passed in October 2019. Protestors took to the streets in San Marco carrying signs and calling for then Mayor Lenny Curry "to reverse his decision on adult arcade closures". They also demanded the resignation of Councilwoman Cumber. One protestor called it "political corruption with special interests" and that it was "a direct attack on minority workers." [13]

Cumber also sponsored a bill to create a pilot program establishing a permitting process for dockless mobility vehicles, such as electric bicycles and scooters. [14]

Cumber also wrote and passed the legislation to create Jacksonville's Public Nuisance Abatement Board. [15]

2023 Mayoral campaign

In March 2022, Cumber announced a formal run for Mayor of Jacksonville. [16] She lost the election in March 2023. In August 2023, Cumber was appointed by Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to the Board of Governors of the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Rutherford (Florida politician)</span> American politician (born 1952)

John Henry Rutherford is an American politician and former police officer serving as the U.S. representative from Florida's 5th congressional district since 2017. His district encompasses most of Jacksonville and most of its suburbs in Nassau and St. Johns counties, including St. Augustine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Peyton (American politician)</span> American businessman and politician

John Stephens Peyton is an American businessman and politician who is currently president of Gate Petroleum. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2003 to 2011, when he was succeeded by Alvin Brown. He was the second Republican to be elected to the position since 1888. After his term he returned to Gate, his family business, and succeeded his father Herb Peyton as the company's president in January 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audrey Gibson</span> American politician

Audrey Gibson is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 6th district, which includes sections of downtown Jacksonville in Duval County, since 2016. She previously represented the 9th district from 2012 to 2016 and the 1st district from 2011 to 2012. Gibson also served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 15th district in downtown Jacksonville from 2002 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Jacksonville</span>

The government of Jacksonville is organized under the city charter and provides for a "strong" mayor–council system. The most notable feature of the government in Jacksonville, Florida, is that it is consolidated with Duval County, which the jurisdictions agreed to in the 1968 Jacksonville Consolidation.

Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) is Florida's oldest and largest commercial real estate, transportation, and infrastructure holding company. Based in Coral Gables, FECI is the direct lineal descendant of the various companies founded by pioneering American businessman Henry M. Flagler. FECI today is the parent company of three distinct businesses:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Florida</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Florida have federal protections, but many face legal difficulties on the state level that are not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy law. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015. Discrimination on account of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations is outlawed following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County. In addition, several cities and counties, comprising about 55 percent of Florida's population, have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances. These include Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach, among others. Conversion therapy is also banned in a number of cities in the state, mainly in the Miami metropolitan area, but has been struck down by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In September 2023, Lake Worth Beach, Florida became an official "LGBT sanctuary city" to protect and defend LGBT rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvin Brown</span> American politician

Alvin Brown is an American politician from Florida who served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 2011 to 2015. He was the first African American to be elected to that position. Brown succeeded John Peyton as mayor after winning the 2011 mayoral election. In the 2015 race, he lost his re-election bid to Republican Lenny Curry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husein Cumber</span>

Husein Aftab Cumber is the chief strategy officer for Florida East Coast Industries, LLC. (FECI). FECI is one of Florida's largest commercial real estate, transportation and infrastructure companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Curry</span> American politician

Leonard Boyd Curry is an American politician, accountant, and businessman who served as the 8th mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2015 to 2023 after defeating then-incumbent Alvin Brown in the city's 2015 mayoral election. He was re-elected in 2019. A Republican, Curry formerly served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and co-founded the professional services firm ICX Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Florida Attorney General election</span>

The 2018 Florida Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Attorney General of Florida. Incumbent Republican attorney general Pam Bondi was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the 27 U.S. representatives from the state of Florida, one from each of the state's 27 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The party primaries were held on August 28, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberly Daniels</span> American minister/politician

Kimberly Daniels is an American minister, religious author, politician, wife and mother of four from Jacksonville, Florida. She is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing House District 14. She began her political career as an at-large member of the Jacksonville City Council. She served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing House District 14 as a member of the Democratic Party from 2016–2020 before losing her re-election campaign to Florida state House representative Angie Nixon. During the 2022 election, Nixon ran to represent House District 13, creating a vacant seat in House District 14. On the last day of qualifying for the 2022 election, Daniels entered the race for the House District 14 seat in 2022. On August 23, 2022, she easily took the Democratic Primary for House District 14, winning all of the district's 41 precincts. Shortly thereafter, the write-in candidate withdrew from the race, securing Daniels' return to the Florida House of Representatives, this time without ever having to win a general election campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna V. Eskamani</span> American politician from Florida

Anna Vishkaee Eskamani is an American politician who is a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 42nd district in Orange County, which covers parts of Orlando along with Maitland, Winter Park, Eatonville, Edgewood, and Belle Isle. She is the first Iranian American elected to any public office in Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Jacksonville mayoral election</span>

The 2019 Jacksonville mayoral election was held on March 19, 2019, to elect the mayor of Jacksonville. Incumbent mayor Lenny Curry, a Republican, won a majority of votes to win a second term in office. No Democratic candidate qualified for the mayoral election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Florida, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won re-election in a landslide and defeated the Democratic Party nominee, Charlie Crist, who served as governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011 as a Republican and later as an independent. No Democrat has been elected governor of Florida since 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the 28 U.S. representatives from Florida, one from each of the state's 28 congressional districts. The primary was held on August 23, 2022. The elections coincided with the 2022 United States Senate election in Florida, other elections to the House of Representatives, other elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie Nixon</span> American politician

Angela Nixon is an American politician and community organizer from Jacksonville, Florida. She serves in the Florida House of Representatives. Nixon is currently Director for the Florida Public Service Union's (FPSU) Higher Education Campaign and was previously the Florida state field director for the Service Employees International Union, of which FPSU is an affiliate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Jacksonville mayoral election</span>

The 2023 Jacksonville mayoral election was held on March 21, 2023, with a runoff held on May 16. Incumbent Republican mayor Lenny Curry was term-limited and could not seek a third term in office. Seven candidates filed to run, including four Republicans, two Democrats, and an independent. Jacksonville mayoral elections use a blanket primary system where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Jacksonville Sheriff special election</span>

The 2022 Jacksonville Sheriff special election was held on August 23, 2022, to elect the next sheriff of Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Incumbent sheriff Pat Ivey, previously the undersheriff, was appointed interim sheriff by Governor DeSantis after his predecessor Mike Williams resigned. Ivey was not a candidate in the election. As no candidates received more than 50% of the vote in the general election, a runoffwas held on November 8, 2022, coinciding with the regularly scheduled elections in Florida. T.K. Waters ultimately won the race with 55% of the vote compared to Burton's 45%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittany Chrishawn Moore</span> American producer

Brittany Chrishawn Moore, better known as Brittany Chrishawn, is a Jamaican-American film producer, musical artist, and police brutality survivor who was brutalized by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) police after asking a trespassing officer to leave her property. She gained public support after the release and examination of body camera footage of her unjust arrest and mistreatment by five Jacksonville, Florida police officers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Councilperson". San Marco Preservation Society. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "LeAnna Cumber to claim District 5 Council seat". The Resident Community News Group. 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  3. ↑ McLawhorn, Jennifer (March 15, 2024). "LeAnna Gutierrez Cumber Joins Herzog as Chief Strategy Officer". RT&S. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  4. ↑ Gancarski, A.G (July 30, 2019). "LeAnna Cumber talks Jacksonville budget, school tax, utility privatization" . Retrieved 2002-06-02.
  5. ↑ "18-year-olds can't 'make it rain': Jacksonville may require strippers be 21 or older". Florida Politics . 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  6. ↑ Lorenz, Maggie (2020-03-02). "Jacksonville mayor to sign bill cracking down on sex trafficking". WJXT. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  7. ↑ "File #: 2020-0074-E". City of Jacksonville. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  8. ↑ Hodgson, Marcia (March 2, 2020). "Cumber introduces city bill to beef up sex trafficking regulations" . Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Major Step Toward Ending Human And Sex Trafficking In Jacksonville". March 5, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ Gancarski, A.G (October 9, 2019). "Cliffhanger vote is game over for Jacksonville adult arcades" . Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ Nelson, Ryan (October 11, 2019). "Simulated gambling at internet cafes now illegal in Jacksonville; what happens next?" . Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  12. ↑ Jones, David (October 19, 2019). "Employees, adult arcade owners continue protests against shutdowns across Jacksonville" . Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ Jones, David (2019-10-19). "Employees, adult arcade owners continue protests against shutdowns across Jacksonville". firstcoastnews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  14. ↑ Mendenhall, Mike (January 16, 2020). "Bill would permit electric scooters and bicycles in Downtown Jacksonville" . Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Hundreds of calls for service at Jacksonville apartment complex prompts board to declare it a nuisance; owner has 30 days to show improvements". firstcoastnews.com. August 25, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  16. ↑ Bauerlein, David (March 21, 2022). "LeAnna Cumber kicks off run for mayor, says it's time for Jacksonville to 'get moving'". Jacksonville.
  17. ↑ "Board of Governors - Public - Citizens Property Insurance Corporation". www.citizensfla.com. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.