Christine Jennings (FL-13)

As a trailblazing female CEO and bank executive, Christine has used her success to sustain her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community service.

Christine first started working at a bank, as a teller, when she was just 17.  She worked her way up in leadership positions at various banks and earned a strong reputation in the finance world, at a time when female executives were rare. Christine became the founder President, CEO, Chairman of the Board and Director of Sarasota Bank.

Christine was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to chair the Real property-lease Procurement Task Force. She has also served in the capacity of President for five community organizations: the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Film Festival, the Mental Health Association of Sarasota County, the Sarasota Ballet and the Downtown Association of Sarasota.  In addition, she is a graduate of Leadership Manatee and served on the Executive Committee United Way of Manatee County. Her board affiliations are numerous and include the Community AIDS Network and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among over a dozen other community memberships and leadership roles.

Christine has been recognized by the United Negro College Fund, the National Council of Jewish Women and the National Association of Fundraising Executives for her numerous philanthropic endeavors.

Christine lost this House seat to Vern Buchanan by only a few hundred votes in 2006.  The 2006 race was for the open seat left by Republican Katherine Harris, the former Secretary of State responsible for overseeing the 2000 Florida presidential recount. The DCCC has targeted this race for its Red to Blue program and Christine has earned the endorsement of EMILYs List, NOW, the American Federation of Teachers, NEA, and the Blue Dog Democrat Coalition, among many other organizations.  

It is Democrats like Christine, from competitive Republican districts, that will help change Washington and build the majority in Congress that President Obama will need. We must do everything we can to help elect Christine Jennings. If you live near Christine and would like to help you can also sign up to volunteer and we will help connect with her campaign. The stakes are too high, the time is short – get involved today.