Profile: State Sen. Stephen Wise
A Republican, he represents District 5, which encompasses most of western Duval County along with parts of Nassau, Clay and St. Johns counties.
Election history
Elected to the Senate in 2001 to serve remaining year of Jim Horne’s term, subsequently re-elected.
Education
Received doctorate in education from University of Alabama in 1970, master’s in education from Middle Tennessee State University in 1968 and bachelor’s from Florida Southern College in 1959.
Occupation
Education consultant. Retired after 30 years of being an educator.
Civic highlights
Served in the Florida House from 1988-2000. Part of Jacksonville City Council Education Task Force in 2002, Florida Workforce Development Board in 2002 and State Job Training Coordinating Council from 1998-1995. Member of WorkSource Florida Board from 2000-present.
Family
Wife, Kathy, and two children, Kelly Anne Legg and Tara Elizabeth Thompson.
What he drives
“A Prius with an odometer that just hit 121,000 miles. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it and the only thing I’ve had done are new tires.”
Favorite legislative
moment
“There are a few of them, but things like the 20th anniversary of Able Trust are important to me.”
The trust supports individual nonprofit vocational rehabilitation and assists Floridians with disabilities achieve employment.
Least favorite legislative
moment
“When working on something you think is important, especially involving children, that you believe is a no-brainer and it gets stopped. That really gets to me.”
On stimulus money
“I think it kept us from having a disaster last year and this year. The dollars are going to be going away, though.”
On the budget and
funding
“It gives us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take a look at some of the things and go through everything line by line.”
How he de-stresses
“I’m there by 6-6:30 a.m. and I don’t get out a lot of times before 7:30 p.m. or so. I like to watch (NCAA tournament) basketball games and really just spend time with my family.”
Guilty pleasure
“Definitely chocolate.”