“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the 136,000 people in my District. When I stand to argue a position in the House Chambers, I am cognizant of the fact that I am the voice for a very diverse group of people that have serious concerns and desires for a quality of life that represents what this country is suppose to be all about. I try to reflect upon what I say before I say it because I want my colleagues to feel the passion that I have for the issues that I am advocating,” Gibbons said.

Representative Gibbons is the first African American to represent House District 105 which includes Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Park and West Park in Broward County. He was elected to the House after being the second African American in history to serve on the Hallandale Beach City Council.  “Most of the political forecasters said that I could not win the House seat. Many of my constituents are Jewish and many said that an African American could not be elected. But I believed that the people of House District 105 would look at my qualifications and not my race when choosing a representative,” said Gibbons. 

During Gibbons’ first year, he was determined to make a difference. Although the democrats were out numbered in the Florida House of Representatives, he successfully passed a bill his first year and he successfully negotiated budget allocations for his constituents. Gibbons, a former president of his condo association, also pushed a year long investigation of condominium fraud that culminated in the largest indictment and prosecution of four directors at Parker Plaza Condominium Association in Hallandale Beach. “It was unfair for contractors to get away with taking advantage of homeowners by paying kickbacks to board directors. The investigation took a year because it is difficult to document the fraud. Police and Prosecutors typically see these cases as civil and not criminal,” said Gibbons.

In the Florida House of Representatives, Gibbons served on three select committees: Condominium and Homeowners Association Governance, Protecting Personal Identification and Autism. He also serves as the lead on gaming issues for the House Democratic Caucus. With these appointments and his regular Council and Committee assignments Representative Gibbons serves on more councils and committees than any other member of the House. “Joe is a star in the Democratic Party and the Florida Legislature. It is a privilege to serve with him,” said Representative Franklin Sands, D-Weston, incoming Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives.

During the 2008 Legislative Session, Representative Gibbons was elected as the chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL or Caucus). Gibbons is the only first term legislator to be elected as the chair of the Caucus. “Joe understands. He gets it. He has gained the respect of all concerned, well at least 99%, and he has garnered support from the Legislature in both the House and the Senate. When he presents, he is on target. He has something to offer,” said Representative Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (D-Miami) when asked about Representative Gibbons’ as the new chair of the Caucus.

The original 12 members of the Caucus included... Corrine Brown – Jacksonville, James Burke – Miami, Bill Clark – Fort Lauderdale, Arnett Girardeau – Jacksonville, James Hargrett, Jr. – Tampa, Doug Jamerson – St. Petersburg, Willie Logan, Jr. – Opa Locka, Al Lawson, Jr. – Tallahassee, Carrie Meek – Miami, Jefferson Reaves, Sr. – Miami, Alzo Reddick – Orlando and John Thomas – Jacksonville.  Throughout its history, the Caucus has worked with their legislative colleagues, cabinet officials, state agencies and private corporations to advance laws and promote issues to improve the lives of disadvantaged Floridians. The Caucus has ensured that issues that disproportionately impact African Americans are addressed by the legislature. One of the areas where the strength of the Caucus has been clearly felt is in the funding for historically black colleges and universities. “Before we formed the Caucus, HBCUs were not fairly funded. In fact, buildings at FAMU were boarded up because they had not received adequate funding to renovate and maintain the campus. The Caucus helped to bring these issues to the forefront and secure adequate funding for FAMU. The funding was also eventually increased for Bethune Cookman, Florida Memorial and Edward Waters,” Lawson said.   U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown attributes a part of her success today to her service in the Florida Black Caucus.  “I was honored to be one of the founding members of the Florida Black Caucus.  We understood when we got together and formed the Caucus that the strength of the wolf was in the pack” she said.

A few of the milestone initiatives supported by the Caucus include

• Passage of Rosewood legislation granting compensation to the survivors and descendants of the 1923 Rosewood massacre
• After a 21 year fight, compensation to Freddie Pitts and Wilbert Lee for their wrongful incarceration for murders that they did not commit
• Pioneered legislation to re-establish Florida A & M College of Law
• Supported legislation for
   restoration of civil rights for

    convicted felons.
• Lead the way in support of
   economic justice for the sur
   vivors of Martin Lee An-
   derson and the reformation
   of the juvenile boot camp
   system
• Supported the expansion of
   competition and competi
   tive pricing in the cable tel-
   evision market
• Negotiated and received
   apology from Florida Leg-
   islature for passage of laws
   perpetuating slavery
• Passage of legislation creating an official state anthem “Florida Where the Saw
  grass Meets the Sky” and revised the lyrics of the official state song “Old Folks
   at Home”

The platform for the Caucus during Representative Gibbons’ service as chair will focus upon energy, broadband, tax reform, growth management and health care. “I thought that it was important to build upon the strong foundation of the Caucus while also extending our reach from the traditional social service orientation to a wider area that includes strategic economic development as a path to improving our constituents overall quality of life,” said Gibbons. When asked about the direction that the Caucus is moving in, Representative Ronald Brise (D-North Miami), Second Vice President of the Caucus, said “Under Joe’s leadership, I know that as a Caucus we will continue our mission of service to the Black community, but I anticipate a change in how we provide our service. Joe understands the value of organization, business and economic empowerment as it relates to our community.”

Florida Black Caucus 2008 Platform

Energy

• Ensure all policy decisions related to climate change and environmental policies
  include an analysis of consumer costs and electric prices
• Develop energy efficiency and conservation programs that benefit economically
  disadvantaged consumers and consumers on fixed incomes
• Facilitate and support energy conservation educational programs and initiatives
  for all consumers, particularly the underserved
• Develop a greater understanding of alter native fuel sources
• Explore state’s new conservation measures and the fiscal impacts on Floridians

Tax Reform:
• Address policy implications of proposed constitutional amendments
• Study the cumulative effects of the recently passed legislation, constitutional
  amendments and the proposed constitutional amendments
• Weigh possible effects on businesses, professionals and average citizens

Growth Management:
• Gain a greater understanding of the policies impacting in-fill development
• Focus upon plans for mixed use development around transportation HUBS
• Water mitigation

Broadband/Advanced Communications:
• Develop polices that ensure expanded adoption and usage of broadband tech-
   nologies and services in minority and other underserved communities
• Ensure government utilizes broadband infrastructure to provide more cost effec-
   tive government services to the economically disadvantaged and elderly citizens
• Review and modify outdated communications laws to spur innovation, increase
   investment and create greater consumer choice at lower prices

Healthcare:
• Explore funding and policy issues surrounding preventive community based healthcare
• Medicaid Reform
• Gain a greater understanding of policy implications for HMOs
• Explore implications of the Governor’s new heath insurance plan

The Caucus will have a series of issues conferences throughout the year in support of the 2008 Platform. The first issues conference is scheduled for June 12, 2008 in Hallandale Beach Florida and it will address Tax Reform. The issues conference will be followed by a scholarship golf tournament on June 13, 2008. The public is invited to attend and participate in the Caucus activities.

Representative Gibbons’ commitment to politics and the community did not start with his service on the City Commission; it actually began when he was much younger growing up in Harlem, New York. Gibbons said that when he was 10 years old, a young Democrats club was initiated in his neighborhood.  As a member of the club, we were exposed to different politicians and participated in political campaigns.  By the time Gibbons turned 12 years of age, he was president of the club.

In addition to an early interest in politics, Gibbons was also an accomplished athlete. “I understood that I wanted to go to college and that my mother did not have the money to send me. I was determined to use my athletic ability to get an education,” he said. Gibbons’ plan paid off and he was awarded a scholarship to attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

After graduating from college, Gibbons returned to Harlem and formed the Christian Reformed Board of Home Missions on the block where he grew up while earning his masters degree in public administration. He later began a career with IBM where he became top salesmen in the country.  After leaving IBM, he ran a computer retail business in Michigan and eventually was recruited to run a toner manufacturing company in Canada.  Gibbons moved to Florida in 1994. “I gained a great deal of experience as I traveled around the country and worked in Canada. I believe that the business experiences and the life lessons have helped me to be a better state representative for my constituents and it will help me to better serve in my capacity as the chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators,” he said.

Representative Gibbons is the owner of Gibbons Consulting, a computer hardware and supply distribution company.  He is scheduled to be married to his fiancé, Ava L. Parker, later this year.When Representative Joe Gibbons (D – Hallandale Beach) stands to address an issue on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives, his enthusiasm and support for his position shows from head to toe. He speaks with a determined, clear and fast paced voice while almost bouncing on the balls of his feet. While Joe may be a common name, Representative Gibbons is living up to his campaign slogan of “Not Your Average Joe” while serving in the Florida Legislature.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the 136,000 people in my District. When I stand to argue a position in the House Chambers, I am cognizant of the fact that I am the voice for a very diverse group of people that have serious concerns and desires for a quality of life that represents what this country is suppose to be all about. I try to reflect upon what I say before I say it because I want my colleagues to feel the passion that I have for the issues that I am advocating,” Gibbons said.

Representative Gibbons is the first African American to represent House District 105 which includes Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Park and West Park in Broward County. He was elected to the House after being the second African American in history to serve on the Hallandale Beach City Council.  “Most of the political forecasters said that I could not win the House seat. Many of my constituents are Jewish and many said that an African American could not be elected. But I believed that the people of House District 105 would look at my qualifications and not my race when choosing a representative,” said Gibbons. 

During Gibbons’ first year, he was determined to make a difference. Although the democrats were out numbered in the Florida House of Representatives, he successfully passed a bill his first year and he successfully negotiated budget allocations for his constituents. Gibbons, a former president of his condo association, also pushed a year long investigation of condominium fraud that culminated in the largest indictment and prosecution of four directors at Parker Plaza Condominium Association in Hallandale Beach. “It was unfair for contractors to get away with taking advantage of homeowners by paying kickbacks to board directors. The investigation took a year because it is difficult to document the fraud. Police and Prosecutors typically see these cases as civil and not criminal,” said Gibbons.

In the Florida House of Representatives, Gibbons served on three select committees: Condominium and Homeowners Association Governance, Protecting Personal Identification and Autism. He also serves as the lead on gaming issues for the House Democratic Caucus. With these appointments and his regular Council and Committee assignments Representative Gibbons serves on more councils and committees than any other member of the House. “Joe is a star in the Democratic Party and the Florida Legislature. It is a privilege to serve with him,” said Representative Franklin Sands, D-Weston, incoming Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives.

During the 2008 Legislative Session, Representative Gibbons was elected as the chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL or Caucus). Gibbons is the only first term legislator to be elected as the chair of the Caucus. “Joe understands. He gets it. He has gained the respect of all concerned, well at least 99%, and he has garnered support from the Legislature in both the House and the Senate. When he presents, he is on target. He has something to offer,” said Representative Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (D-Miami) when asked about Representative Gibbons’ as the new chair of the Caucus.

The original 12 members of the Caucus included... Corrine Brown – Jacksonville, James Burke – Miami, Bill Clark – Fort Lauderdale, Arnett Girardeau – Jacksonville, James Hargrett, Jr. – Tampa, Doug Jamerson – St. Petersburg, Willie Logan, Jr. – Opa Locka, Al Lawson, Jr. – Tallahassee, Carrie Meek – Miami, Jefferson Reaves, Sr. – Miami, Alzo Reddick – Orlando and John Thomas – Jacksonville.  Throughout its history, the Caucus has worked with their legislative colleagues, cabinet officials, state agencies and private corporations to advance laws and promote issues to improve the lives of disadvantaged Floridians. The Caucus has ensured that issues that disproportionately impact African Americans are addressed by the legislature. One of the areas where the strength of the Caucus has been clearly felt is in the funding for historically black colleges and universities. “Before we formed the Caucus, HBCUs were not fairly funded. In fact, buildings at FAMU were boarded up because they had not received adequate funding to renovate and maintain the campus. The Caucus helped to bring these issues to the forefront and secure adequate funding for FAMU. The funding was also eventually increased for Bethune Cookman, Florida Memorial and Edward Waters,” Lawson said.   U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown attributes a part of her success today to her service in the Florida Black Caucus.  “I was honored to be one of the founding members of the Florida Black Caucus.  We understood when we got together and formed the Caucus that the strength of the wolf was in the pack” she said.

A few of the milestone initiatives supported by the Caucus include:
• Passage of Rosewood legislation granting compensation to the survivors and descendants of the 1923 Rosewood massacre
• After a 21 year fight, compensation to Freddie Pitts and Wilbert Lee for their wrongful incarceration for murders that they did not commit
• Pioneered legislation to re-establish Florida A & M College of Law
• Supported legislation for restoration of civil rights for convicted felons.

• Lead the way in support of economic justice for the survivors of Martin Lee An-
   derson and the reformation of the juvenile boot camp system
• Supported the expansion of competition and competitive pricing in the cable tel-
   evision market
• Negotiated and received apology from Florida Legislature for passage of laws
   perpetuating slavery
• Passage of legislation creating an official state anthem “Florida Where the Saw
  grass Meets the Sky” and revised the lyrics of the official state song “Old Folks
   at Home”

The platform for the Caucus during Representative Gibbons’ service as chair will focus upon energy, broadband, tax reform, growth management and health care. “I thought that it was important to build upon the strong foundation of the Caucus while also extending our reach from the traditional social service orientation to a wider area that includes strategic economic development as a path to improving our constituents overall quality of life,” said Gibbons. When asked about the direction that the Caucus is moving in, Representative Ronald Brise (D-North Miami), Second Vice President of the Caucus, said “Under Joe’s leadership, I know that as a Caucus we will continue our mission of service to the Black community, but I anticipate a change in how we provide our service. Joe understands the value of organization, business and economic empowerment as it relates to our community.”

Florida Black Caucus 2008 Platform

Energy:
• Ensure all policy decisions related to climate change and environmental policies include an analysis of consumer costs and electric prices
• Develop energy efficiency and conservation programs that benefit economically
  disadvantaged consumers and consumers on fixed incomes
• Facilitate and support energy conservation educational programs and initiatives
  for all consumers, particularly the underserved
• Develop a greater understanding of alternative fuel sources
• Explore state’s new conservation measures and the fiscal impacts on Floridians

Tax Reform

• Address policy implications of proposed constitutional amendments
• Study the cumulative effects of the recently passed legislation, constitutional
  amendments and the proposed constitutional amendments
• Weigh possible effects on businesses, professionals and average citizens

Growth Management

• Gain a greater understanding of the policies impacting in-fill development
• Focus upon plans for mixed use development around transportation HUBS
• Water mitigation

Broadband/Advanced Communications

• Develop polices that ensure expanded adoption and usage of broadband tech-
   nologies and services in minority and other underserved communities
• Ensure government utilizes broadband infrastructure to provide more cost effec-
   tive government services to the economically disadvantaged and elderly citizens
• Review and modify outdated communications laws to spur innovation, increase
   investment and create greater consumer choice at lower prices

Healthcare

• Explore funding and policy issues surrounding preventive community based healthcare
• Medicaid Reform
• Gain a greater understanding of policy implications for HMOs
• Explore implications of the Governor’s new heath insurance plan

The Caucus will have a series of issues conferences throughout the year in support of the 2008 Platform. The first issues conference is scheduled for June 12, 2008 in Hallandale Beach Florida and it will address Tax Reform. The issues conference will be followed by a scholarship golf tournament on June 13, 2008. The public is invited to attend and participate in the Caucus activities.

Representative Gibbons’ commitment to politics and the community did not start with his service on the City Commission; it actually began when he was much younger growing up in Harlem, New York. Gibbons said that when he was 10 years old, a young Democrats club was initiated in his neighborhood.  As a member of the club, we were exposed to different politicians and participated in political campaigns.  By the time Gibbons turned 12 years of age, he was president of the club.

In addition to an early interest in politics, Gibbons was also an accomplished athlete. “I understood that I wanted to go to college and that my mother did not have the money to send me. I was determined to use my athletic ability to get an education,” he said. Gibbons’ plan paid off and he was awarded a scholarship to attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

After graduating from college, Gibbons returned to Harlem and formed the Christian Reformed Board of Home Missions on the block where he grew up while earning his masters degree in public administration. He later began a career with IBM where he became top salesmen in the country.  After leaving IBM, he ran a computer retail business in Michigan and eventually was recruited to run a toner manufacturing company in Canada.  Gibbons moved to Florida in 1994. “I gained a great deal of experience as I traveled around the country and worked in Canada. I believe that the business experiences and the life lessons have helped me to be a better state representative for my constituents and it will help me to better serve in my capacity as the chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators,” he said.

 Representative Gibbons is the owner of Gibbons Consulting, a computer hardware and supply distribution company.  He is scheduled to be married to his fiancé, Ava L. Parker, later this year.

Left: Majority Whip James Clyburn, Ava Parker and Rep. Joseph Gibbons