2023-2024 Green Party of Florida Representatives
Co-Chair/Spokesperson - Kim "KLARC" O'Connor, Leon County
Kim O'Connor is a Florida native who has been interested
in independent politics since she was 12.
She has been a member, first of the New Party, and also the
Reform Party and the Independent Party. Mostly she has been
NPA, but joined the Green Party in 2002 inspired by the local
environmental activism of the local Tallahassee Greens.
She has been elected twice while registered as a Green: to the non-
partisan Soil and Water Conservation Board in Leon County in 2004,
then Hillsborough County in 2016. She also ran unsuccessfully
for Hillsborough County Commission in 2018 as a Green.
"I love the environmental, anti-corporate-rule positions of the Greens,
and believe local Greens running for local offices is the best way to grow our party in Florida."
Co-Chair/Spokesperson - Randy Toler, Hillsborough County
As a Co-Founder of the Green Party of the United States I have been active for almost 40 years. I was the first to register the US Greens with the Federal Election Commission. I currently live in Seffner Florida with my wife Alicia and daughter Kellie, and sons Rainer and Kyle which is in the Tampaland area. I have had a long career in mainframe software sales, focusing in particular on eco-software and green IT.
Over the years I have run for Mayor of Illinois' second largest city Aurora twice, School Board in the nation's sixth largest school district twice, and also for Congress in Southern California. Recently I become Co-Chair of the Green Party of Florida and am working on a statewide branding campaign with signs to attract new members and increase mass media coverage. I look forward to working with everyone!
rainer8@verizon.net
Treasurer - Aaron Frost, Palm Beach County
I became interested in politics in 2016, and since I am primarily concerned with climate change and sustainability I felt that the Green Party was a great way to make a difference. I began attending the Palm Beach County Green Party meetings where I soon became the county treasurer, and a year later I was nominated to the GPFL Board as treasurer for the state. Since then I process all our payments and report all donations/expenses quarterly to the Federal Elections Commission and to the Florida Department of Elections.
treasurer@gpfl.org
On the side I'm a permaculture nerd, and a small portion of my gardening work can be viewed on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/Nl4bPq7nCe8
Secretary - Steve Newman, Brevard County
A native and life-long resident of Florida, graduate of Melbourne High School, Brevard Community College, and THE University of Florida (BSME), and currently self-employed arborist, (Da Kine Trim - Tree & Landscape Services), I followed politics and voted, but wasn't all that involved until someone from the GPFL called in an effort to start the Brevard County Green Party. The peril surrounding our Four Pillars of peace, environmental wisdom, social/economic justice, and grass-roots democracy compelled me to get involved. To remain committed to the cause in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and obstacles takes fortitude. It has been my privilege to dig down, grow roots, and see some fruit through our labor. What a humbling learning experience it has been! Baby carrots are better than no carrots, but we need a lot more hands in the soil here in the Green Party if we're going to rise to challenge the sixth mass extinction that is well underway.
Spokesperson (Central) - Jennifer Sullivan, Hernando County
A lifelong feminist activist and currently serving as National Committee Delegate and At-Large Member of the Coordinating Council for the GPFL, as well as Treasurer and representative on both the GPUS Merchandise and International Committees for the National Women's Caucus,
Born in the Chicago area, Sullivan has lived in Colorado, California and (since 1996) the West Coast of Florida. Majoring in art and marketing, she has managed businesses and served on several boards of directors in various areas. She is also a nationally certified soccer coach.
Sullivan began her political life at age 15, reading and studying Ramparts magazine followed by a spell working for Ralph Nader to try and prevent nuclear power plants. In 1968, she supported Eugene McCarthy and in 1972, George McGovern (with Shirley Chisholm as his VP). Finding the Disappointingacrats lacking she Dem-Exited after the 1972 presidential campaign. Worked for the few progressive campaigns that were out there and have either funded or been a direct activist in about all of the topics in our GP platform.
Sullivan considers herself blessed with a daughter and son. For over 20 years, she has supported four little girls in Africa and was able to meet one of them (Winnie Kanna) in Nairobi. She has traveled to all but four north central states; made several trips to Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Venezuela, Cuba, Morocco, Canada as well as some Caribbean and Central American countries, making the effort to delve into the real places, often with area activists.
Independent until 1996, she joined the Green Party and helped found the Hernando County Green Party. Her local has produced various products; billboards for a living wage and Jill Stein, and two full seasons of a broadcast TV show in Tampa called On the Table With the Green Party, (in which she acts as one of the hosts). The show featured discussions with activists, professors, executives, doctors and group representatives on many topics aligned with the Green Party platform.
Sullivan has produced several radio programs and hosted a debate show called The Fairness Doctrine on Tampa's WMNF FM.
She served as the Hernando County Green Party delegate to the Green Party of Florida for 10 years; 4 plus years as a GPFL Co-Chair; re-organized 3 key Affiliates, and served as a Florida Delegate to the GPUS National Committee for several years.
Spokesperson (North) - Henry Lawrence III, Bay County
Green since 2000, Florida Green since 2001
National Delegate to GPUS
AT-Large CC (Coordinating Council) member (Bay County)
Spokesperson Northwest Florida
GPUS Liaison to the CCC (Campaign Coordinating Committee)
Green Candidate 2004 Bay County Commission D-3
2012 Bay County Commission D-3 (write-in)
2014 Florida State Legislature D-6
Established the first Green Party in Bay County in 2002 with a core group of 12 members.
Have been active as local contact for the Green Party while participating in Friday Fest tabling events in Panama City from 2002, as well as tabling at Earth Day and July 4th activities.
Organized and hosted Earth Day Bay County from 2005 until 2022(cancelled 2020 & 2021 due to Covid)
Active in bicycle advocacy prior to joining the Green Party starting in 1995 for our local bicycle club the Panama City Flyers Cycling Club.
Lobbied Congress in Washington,DC at our National Bike Summit from 2001-2005 for funding to support bicycle facilities on our roadways and trails.
Lobbied our State Legislature to create the Share The Road license plate in 1997/98/99.
Worked locally to help provide safer roadways in Bay County and develop new trail opportunities as an active member of the MPO/BPAC (bicycle pedestrian advisory committee) 1995-1998
Most of my political activism did not start until my bicycle advocacy days at 44 years old, so I was a late bloomer other than being anti-war and environmentally conscious.