Larry Ahern (politician): Difference between revisions

{{Infobox State Senatorofficeholder

| birth_place=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]

| children=Lauren Ahern, LindayLindsay Anderson, Sarah Byrne

'''Larry Ahern''' (born April 26, 1955) is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician and a former member of the [[Florida House of Representatives]], representing the 66th District, which includes northwestern [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]], stetchingstretching from [[Clearwater, Florida|Clearwater]] to [[Seminole, Florida|Seminole]], sincefrom 2012, to 2018. Ahern previously representingrepresented the 51st District from 2010 to 2012. He ran for Pinellas County Commission in 2020, losing to incumbent [[Janet C. Long|Janet Long]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Kelly |date=2020-11-04 |title=Janet Long defeats Larry Ahern, keeps Pinellas County Commission seat |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/379866-janet-long-defeats-larry-ahern-keeps-pinellas-county-commission-seat/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=[[Florida Politics]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ahern was born in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], and served in the [[United States Air Force]] from 1973 to 1977, including a tour at the [[Iraklion Air Station]] from 1975 to 1977. He then moved to the state of [[Florida]] in 1978, where he started a swimming pool remodeling business.

In 2010, Ahern ran for the [[Florida House of Representatives]] from the 51st District, which included parts of [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]], against incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Florida House of Representatives|State Representative]] [[Janet Long]]. A contentious election ensued, in which Ahern campaigned on "conservatism and a business-friendly attitude," and in which Long aired a controversial television advertisement "in which her son, a war hero, characterized Ahern as a coward."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/first-time-candidate-larry-ahern-wins-state-house-district-51/1131918|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107085547/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/first-time-candidate-larry-ahern-wins-state-house-district-51/1131918|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2010|title=First-time candidate Larry Ahern wins state House District 51|date=November 2, 2010|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|first=Anne|last=Lindberg}}</ref> Ultimately, Ahern defeated Long and [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] candidate Victoria Torres, receiving 50% of the vote to Long's 44% and Torres's 6%.

When Florida House districts were redrawn in 2012, Ahern was redistricted into the 66th District, which included most of the territory that he had previously represented in the 51st District. He was opposed by Mary Louise Ambrose, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee and the owner of an insurance agency. Ambrose was endorsed by the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'', which criticized Ahern for voting "in lockstep with leadership and special interests to the detriment of his constituents."<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/for-a-better-florida-house/1257108/|title=For a better Florida House|date=October 18, 2012|accessdateaccess-date=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> However, Ahern was re-elected over Ambrose with 53% of the vote.

While serving in the legislature, Ahern sponsored legislation that would "make the death of an 'unborn child' a separate crime from an offense committed against the mother," which Democrats opposed due to the fact thatbecause "[a] person would not have to know a woman is pregnant to be charged with a crime."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/17/3349902/house-unanimous-on-abortion-bill.html|title=House unanimous on abortion bill|date=April 17, 2013|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first=Rochelle|last=Koff}}</ref> Additionally, he authored legislation that would make prosecuting identity theft easier by eliminating a legal requirement that the stolen personal information be "used to commit fraud."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tbo.com/news/politics/tax-fraud-legislation-awaits-scotts-signature-b82486750z1|title=Tax fraud legislation awaits Scott's signature|date=May 2, 2013|accessdate=May 7, 2014|work=[[Tampa Tribune]]|first=Elaine|last=Silvestrini|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508025727/http://tbo.com/news/politics/tax-fraud-legislation-awaits-scotts-signature-b82486750z1|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Category:MembersRepublican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives]]

[[Category:PeoplePoliticians from Detroit, Michigan]]

[[Category:FloridaUnited RepublicansStates Air Force airmen]]