Victor M. Torres Jr. | |
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Member of the Florida Senate from the 15th district |
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Assumed office November 8, 2016 |
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Preceded by | Redistricted |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 48th district |
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In office November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2016 |
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Preceded by | Redistricted |
Succeeded by | Amy Mercado |
Personal details | |
Born |
New York City, New York |
July 22, 1947
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Carmen L. Torres |
Children | Yvonne Torres, Victor Torres III, Justin Torres, Amy Mercado, Melony Marcella |
Alma mater | John Jay College |
Profession | Police detective |
Victor "Vic" Manuel Torres Jr. (born July 22, 1947) is a Democratic member of the Florida Senate who has represented the 15th district, encompassing Osceola County and southern Orange County, since 2016. Previously, he served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of Orlando in Orange County from 2012 to 2016.
Torres was born in New York City, where he graduated from Harren High School in 1966. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for four years from 1966 to 1970. During his service, Torres was stationed in Okinawa in Japan, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. Returning to the United States, Torres attended John Jay College, but did not graduate, and joined the New York City Transit Police, serving for twenty years before retiring as a detective. In 1993, he moved with his family to Florida, initially settling in Marion County, where he worked as a school bus driver and served on the Marion County Democratic Executive Committee. Torres moved to Orlando, and in 2010 was the field director for Amy Mercado, the Democratic nominee for the Florida House of Representatives in District 35.
When the state's legislative districts were redrawn in 2012, Torres opted to run in the newly created 48th District, which includes parts of Orlando in Orange County. Torres won the nomination of the Democratic Party unopposed, and advanced to the general election, where he was also unopposed, winning his first term entirely uncontested. He was re-elected without opposition to his second term in 2014 without opposition.