{{Short description|American politician}}{{Infobox officeholder | name = Holly Benson | image = Official legislative portrait of State Representative Holly Benson.jpg | image_size = | caption = | state_house = Florida | district = 3rd | term_start = November 7, 2000 | term_end = December 31, 2006 | predecessor = DeeDee Ritchie | successor = Clay Ford | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|4}} | birth_place = Camp Lejeune, North Carolina | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = Dartmouth College (AB)<br>University of Florida (JD) | known_for = }}{{BLP sources|date=February 2025}} '''Anna Holliday "Holly" Benson''' (born June 4, 1971<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Holly Benson, Florida House of Representatives |url=https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4187&LegislativeTermId=81 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.flhouse.gov}}</ref>) is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives.

== Personal background ==

Benson was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina<ref name=":0" /> and moved to Pensacola, Florida in 1976. She is a graduate of Pensacola's Booker T. Washington High School (1989), Dartmouth College (A.B., 1993)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holly Benson |url=https://1993.dartmouth.org/s/1353/clubs-classes15/index.aspx?sid=1353&gid=335&pgid=16206 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=1993.dartmouth.org |language=en}}</ref> and the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida (J.D., 1996). Benson was employed as a municipal bond lawyer, prior to her appointment to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in December 2006.

== Florida House of Representatives ==

Benson was elected in November 2000 to the Florida House of Representatives.<ref name=":0" /> Benson was the first Republican elected to the District 3 seat, succeeding Democrat DeeDee Ritchie.

During her time as a representative, Benson served as the Chair of the Health and Families Council, as well as Co-Chair of the Select Committee on Medicaid Reform. Benson also chaired the Select Committee on Article V, which was tasked with implementing a 1998 constitutional amendment that required a major overhaul of the Florida state court system.

On December 28, 2006, Florida's Governor-elect Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida.

=== Previous council and committee memberships ===

* Health and Family Council (chair) * Select Committee on Medicaid Reform (co-chair) * Fiscal Council * Governmental Operations Committee * Growth Management Committee * Health Care Appropriations Committee * Rules and Calendar Council

== Subsequent political career == In February, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fass |first=Colodny |date=2008-02-12 |title=Governor Appoints Holly Benson As AHCA Secretary |url=https://www.colodnyfass.com/blog/governor-appoints-holly-benson-as-ahca-secretary/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Colodny Fass |language=en}}</ref> She resigned in October 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-03-06 |title=Benson resigns as head of Fla. healthcare agency |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20091015/NEWS/310159970/benson-resigns-as-head-of-fla-healthcare-agency |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Modern Healthcare |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=FARRINGTON |first=BRENDAN |title=Health care secretary resigns |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2009/10/16/health-care-secretary-resigns/28896491007/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

Benson ran for the Republican nomination during the 2010 Florida Attorney General election,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=David |title=Florida AG candidate focuses on health care lawsuit |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2010/06/10/florida-ag-candidate-focuses-health-care-lawsuit/15942576007/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=The Florida Times-Union |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BENEFIT OF BEING UNEMPLOYED: YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO EXERCISE, HOLLY BENSON SAYS |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2010/07/20/benefit-of-being-unemployed-you-have-more-time-to-exercise-holly-benson-says/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2010 |title=VOTER GUIDE: Florida Attorney General |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article1936801.html |work=Miami Herald}}</ref> however did not make it past the primary stage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=August 24, 2010 Primary Election |url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/DetailRpt.Asp?ELECTIONDATE=8/24/2010&RACE=ATG&PARTY=REP&DIST=&GRP=&DATAMODE= |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=results.elections.myflorida.com}}</ref>

== References == {{References list}}

== External links == *[http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4187&SessionId=42 Profile of Benson at the Official Website of the Florida House of Representatives] *[http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/sponsoredbills.aspx?MemberId=4187&SessionId=42 List of Bills Sponsored by Benson] *[http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4187&SessionId=42 Contact Representative Benson] *[http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=WFL79291&type=category&category=Business%20and%20Consumers Interest Group Ratings of Benson at Project Vote Smart] *[https://www2.myfloridalicense.com Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation]

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-fl-hs}} {{succession box|before=DeeDee Ritchie|title=Member of the Florida House of Representatives<br>from the 3rd district|years=2000–2006|after=Clay Ford}} {{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Holly}} Category:Living people Category:Dartmouth College alumni Category:Fredric G. Levin College of Law alumni Category:1971 births Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives Category:Women state legislators in Florida Category:People from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature