Don Gaetz
| Don Gaetz | |
|---|---|
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| President of the Florida Senate | |
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In office November 20, 2012 – November 18, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Haridopolos |
| Succeeded by | Andy Gardiner |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 1st district 4th (2006-2012) |
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In office November 7, 2006 – November 8, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Charlie Clary |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 22, 1948 Rugby, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Victoria Quertermous |
| Children | Matt Gaetz, Erin Victoria Gaetz |
| Alma mater |
Concordia College (B.A.) Troy State University (M.P.A.) |
| Profession | Healthcare executive |
Donald J. "Don" Gaetz (born January 22, 1948) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Florida State Senate from 2006 to 2016, representing parts of Northwest Florida. He was Senate President from 2012 to 2014. His son is Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz was born in Rugby, North Dakota, to Jerry Gaetz, a former mayor of the city and a state legislator. Jerry Gaetz was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota at the 1964 North Dakota Republican Party state convention, where he died of a heart attack while his son watched television coverage of the event.
Don Gaetz attended Concordia College, graduating with his bachelor's degree in religion and political science, and then Troy State University, receiving his Master of Public Administration in education before moving to the state of Florida in 1978. He worked in Jacksonville as a hospital administrator, and lobbied the legislature to create hospice care programs for the dying. In 1983, Gaetz founded VITAS Healthcare Corporation with a group of investors, which he later sold for nearly half a billion dollars in 2004.
In 2013, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against VITAS for allegedly committing Medicare fraud since 2002, when Gaetz still worked at the company, though Gaetz denied any role in any wrongdoing that occurred. His son, Matt Gaetz, currently serves as a member of the United States House of Representatives.
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Wikipedia