Former U.S. Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder and former Florida Senator Alex Villalobos have joined the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Â
“We are delighted and proud that these two distinguished individuals with such deep understanding of government have agreed to serve on our Board,” said LWVF President Deirdre Macnab in a statement Tuesday. “Their decision to join our Board and our mission underscores the nature of our nonpartisan approach to protecting the democratic rights of all Floridians.”
Schroeder served 12 terms in Congress as a Democrat from Colorado, focusing on women, children and family issues, and also served on the Armed Services Committee. Upon leaving the House, Schroeder taught at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and later become the President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, where she served until 2009. Schroeder is now the international and national chair of the English Speaking Union, the vice chair of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, and on the national boards of Common Cause and the Communication Consortium. She resides in Celebration, Florida.
“I am proud to be part of an amazing group of citizens who care so much about Florida’s future and refuse to be discouraged, when there are lots of reasons one might be,” said Schroeder in accepting the position.
Villalobos was elected to the Florida House of Representatives on the Republican ticket and served for eight years. In 2000, he was elected to the Florida Senate and re-elected in 2004 and 2006. During his legislative career, he held leadership positions including Senate Majority Leader, Senate Majority Whip, chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation and chair of the committees on Judiciary, Criminal Justice and Education. He serves of counsel to the Tallahassee firm of Meyer, Brooks, Demma and Blohm, advising clients on a broad array of legal issues including state governmental operations and regulatory matters.
Villalobos said, “The League has proven itself over and over again as a relentless champion for Florida voters and for public education. It is an honor to be part of the League’s ongoing efforts to improve access to voting and raise the standards on ethics in the Legislature.”
