Mr. Republican And Ms. Democrat- Lois Frankel

Lois Frankel’s most important mission: taking care of women and children.
She has been recognized repeatedly for her work in legislation involving AIDS, domestic abuse, sex education, school clinics, tougher laws against selling tobacco to children, abortion rights and the Healthy Families program.
She talked about reducing teen pregnancies and improving child care before those causes were in.
When one group of child and family advocates honored her, they wrote: “She has taken on and won many of the most difficult and volatile issues in health care and social services.”
She wins because she’s persistent – even when she goes up against powerful lobbyists.
“People like me get reputations as hell on wheels or pit bulls because we will not sit down and be quiet,” she said. “But I can’t give up. I’m motivated to be the voice of people who can’t afford to hire a gun. I always felt like I had this burning fire in me, always. It represents having to fight for justice, for the underdog.”
Born in New York City, Frankel got her law degree from Georgetown University in 1973 and came to Florida in 1974 to work for the Palm Beach County Public Defenders Office. Now, she is a leader among House Democrats and, if the party takes control in 2000, she could become House speaker.
Her biggest reward: “Just being stopped in the hallway by somebody who says ‘Thank you, thank you for fighting for me’ or going to a day care and seeing the faces of the children. That’s when I realize I’ve got to keep doing this. People are counting on me.”
- BRIAN E. CROWLEY