Profile: Rep. Mike Weinstein
A Republican, he represents District 19, which is in Southwest Jacksonville, Orange Park and Fruit Cove.
Election history
Defeated Larry Jones in 2008 to succeed Rep. Dick Kravitz. This legislative session is his second.
Education
Received Juris Doctorate from University of Florida, Master of Science from California State University, Bachelor of Arts from Hartwick College and is a doctoral candidate in criminology from Florida State University.
Civic highlights
Mentor; past president of Take Stock in Children; past member of Leadership Jacksonville; past president and CEO of Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee.
Occupation
Prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office.
Family
Wife, Sara, three children, Daryl, Scott and Danielle, and three grandchildren.
What he drives
A Toyota Avalon. “It gets great mileage from here to Tallahassee.”
Favorite moment
“When we finished last year.”
Least favorite moment
“When I realized just how far apart we are as Republicans and Democrats.”
On stimulus money
“Taking stimulus money turned out to be a necessary evil. We were right to take parts of it, but we left some of it on the table that had too many strings attached.”
On funding
“It’s a struggle but it’s something we have to take on like families across Florida. We have to provide a structure for the future.”
How he de-stresses
“I go to the gym every day.”
Guilty pleasure
“Anyone who knows me knows I am a cookie monster. A chocolate-chip cookie monster to be exact.”
Pet project
A foster care bill to enhance the guidance and representation of foster care children, especially young pregnant girls, that would provide special guardians and pro bono attorneys.