Paula Dockery (born June 6, 1961) is an independent politician from the U.S. state of Florida. She served as a member of the Florida Senate for ten years, representing parts of Central Florida from 2002 to 2012 as a Republican. Previously, she served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives, representing a Lakeland-based district from 1996 until her election to the Senate. In January 2017, she left the Republican Party and became a Democrat.
Early life Dockery was born Paula Louise Bono in Queens, New York, on June 6, 1961. Her family moved to Florida in 1968, and she graduated from Coral Springs High School in 1979. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Florida in 1983. While at UF, she was a member of Student Senate, served on the O'Connell Center Board of Managers, Chaired the Affairs & Ethics Committee, and was a graduate teaching assistant.
In 1985 she married Mark Fisher, an aide to United States Senator Lawton Chiles, a Democrat, and in 1986 the couple moved to Lakeland, Florida. She finished her Master of Arts degree in mass communications during 1987, divorced her first husband in 1988, and decided to become active in Republican politics. She was introduced to and married C.C. (Doc) Dockery, a Lakeland businessman and GOP fundraiser, in November 1989. The family business was citrus and cattle.
State legislature Dockery was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1996, and served three terms. She served as majority whip from 1998 through 2000, and was the primary sponsor of the popular Florida Forever Act.
In 2002, she ran for the Florida Senate, and was elected to a district encompassing northern Polk County and parts of surrounding Osceola, Lake, Sumter, and Hernando Counties. She served as Majority Whip from 2002 until 2004. Dockery chaired the Environmental Protection Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee. She was term limited in 2012 and could not run for re-election.
2010 gubernatorial campaign
On June 1, 2009, there was a draft campaign to see Senator Dockery run for Governor of Florida. On November 4, 2009, Dockery entered the race for Florida governor, challenging Florida's Attorney General Bill McCollum for the Republican Nomination. Dockery dropped out of the race when it became clear that she would be unable to run a competitive campaign against Rick Scott, who spent nearly $50 million of his own money to secure a bitterly fought Republican primary victory.
After Scott's primary win, Dockery's name was floated as a potential running mate for Scott. On 30 August 2010, Dockery announced that she would not run for lieutenant governor at Scott's side.
Chronicle Term limits prohibited Dockery from running for senate re-election in 2012, so when she was asked to write a column for the political discourse website Florida Voices to share her insights of Florida politics during her last year as a senator, she agreed.
Honors and awards
Name of organization Award YearAmerican Cancer Society Florida Legislative Award 2004American Cancer Society Florida Legislative Award 2007Florida League of Cities Legislative Appreciation Award 2007Florida League of Cities Legislator of the Year 1999Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Legislative Conservation Award 2001Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Legislative Conservation Award 2005Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Legislative Conservation Award 2006Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Legislative Conservation Award 2007Florida Chamber of Commerce Honor Roll 2006Florida Chamber of Commerce Honor Roll 2007Green Horizon Land Trust Blazing Star Award 2007Sierra Club Florida Chapter Environmental Legislator of the Year 2006Florida Solar Energy Industries Association Outstanding Dedication in Securing Florida's Energy Future 2006Florida Chapter of REP America Green Elephant Award 2006Florida Catholic Conference Defender of Life 2006Governing Magazine Public Official of the Year 2005National Audubon Society Florida chapter Teddy Roosevelt Award 2005National Audubon Society Florida chapter Legislator of the Year 2001School District of Osceola County, FloridaLegislator of the Year Award 2005Enterprise Florida Legislative Champion Award 2005Florida Local Environmental Resources Agencies Environmental Leadership Award 2005Florida Chiropractic Association Legislator of the Year 2005American Water Works Association, Florida Legislator of the Year 2005Florida Association of Counties County Champion Award 2001Florida Association of Counties County Champion Award 2002Florida Association of Counties FAC County Champion 2005Florida Chamber of Commerce "A" Honor Roll 2002Florida Chamber of Commerce "A" Honor Roll 2004Florida Chamber of Commerce "A" Honor Roll 2005Florida Ocean Alliance Award of Appreciation 2005Associated Builders and Contractors Friend of Free Enterprise 2005Florida Wildlife Federation Conservation Legislator of the Year 2004Florida Dental Hygiene Association Senator of the Year Award 2004Florida Ports Council Tugboat Award 2004South Florida Water Management District Outstanding Leadership to Protect the Water Resources of South Florida 2004Florida Trucking Association Senate Legislator of the Year 2004Sierra Club Florida Chapter Certificate of Recognition 2004The Ounce of Preservation Fund Commitment to Florida's Children 2003The Nature Conservancy Leadership Award 2000The Nature Conservancy Forever Florida Leadership Award 2002The Trust for Public Land Legislative Leadership Award 2001Central Florida Health Care Community Shero 1998Florida Chamber of Commerce Top 40 Legislators 1998Florida Chamber of Commerce Top 40 Legislators 1999Florida Chamber of Commerce Top 40 Legislators 2000Florida Chamber of Commerce Top 40 Legislators 2001Miami Herald Most Powerful Legislators, #5 House Ranking 2001Florida Parks and Recreation Association Legislator of the Year 1999Florida Parks and Recreation Association Outstanding Legislator Award 2000Florida Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year 2000Florida Cattlemen's Association Legislator of the Year 2000Florida Forestry Association Legislator of the Year 2000Lake Wales Ridge State Forest "Paula Dockery Trail" Dedication 2000Save Our Lakes of Central Florida Outstanding Legislator Award 2000Florida State Massage Therapy Association Politician of the Year 2000The Midwives Association of Florida Legislator of the Year 1997The Midwives Association of Florida Outstanding Legislator of the Year 2000The Nature Conservancy Florida Chapter Public Service Award 1999The Theodore Roosevelt Society Teddy Award 1999Florida Aquatic Plant Management SocietyPlant Management Award 1999American Advertising Federation John Cummins Legislative Award 1999Printing Association of Florida Paul Revere Award 1999Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Ass'n Outstanding Legislator 1999University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration Program for Emerging Political Leaders Selectee 1998American Advertising Federation 4th District Fall on the Sword Award 1998National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business 1998Associated Industries of Florida 100% Voting Record for Business 1998Christian Coalition of Florida Friend of the Family 1997Leadership Central Florida Graduate 1996Leadership Lakeland Graduate 1993Pi Rho Sigma Honor Society Inducted 1986Outstanding Young Women of America Inducted 1985
References
External links Florida State Legislature - Senator Paula Dockery official government website People for Paula official campaign website Project Vote Smart - Senator Paula B. Dockery (FL) profile Follow the Money – Paula Dockery 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions - Draft Campaign Web Site