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Ron Book's Daughter Considering Run for State Senate for Broward in 2016

Lauren Book, daughter of lobbyist Ron Book, is considering a run for state Senate for South Broward in 2016. Ron Book -- who reps a bevy of governments, including Broward, and private clients, including the Miami Dolphins, and is regarded by many as the most powerful lobbyist in Florida --...
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Lauren Book, daughter of lobbyist Ron Book, is considering a run for state Senate for South Broward in 2016.

Ron Book -- who reps a bevy of governments, including Broward, and private clients, including the Miami Dolphins, and is regarded by many as the most powerful lobbyist in Florida -- has had his clients donate to Lauren's political committee, reports Broward Beat.

According to the report, the Dolphins have donated $100,000 to Lauren's committee, Leadership for Broward, along with another $25 grand from Vitas Hospice and $10,000 from AutoNation.

Ron himself kicked in another 25 grand, bringing the total to $235,000 raised so far in a month.

See also: Ron Book Recounts Spitting Incident

Ron Book, who is probably most famous for creating the Julia Tuttle Causeway sex offender colony in Miami, where sex offenders were forced to live under a bridge, has been involved with Florida politics for almost 40 years, starting with working in the Florida House of Representatives.

He eventually rose to prominence as head of one of the top lobbying firms in the country.

Last year alone, his firm earned $5.6 million in legislative fees, with an average annual retainer of $69,000 per client. His extensive and impressive client list includes the University of Miami, Sun Life Stadium, AT&T, and Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

Book also made news in 2008 when he was jumped by a vagrant after he pushed commissioners to vote in favor of a controversial Commons project in Davie.

He claimed at the time that the man also spit in his eye, which forced Book to go to a local hospital to get injections for hepatitis.

As for Lauren, she's made news of her own, running the "Walk in My Shoes" march, which helps child victims of sexual abuse.

Lauren herself was a victim of abuse by the family nanny growing up, which has also molded Ron into a staunch aggressor against sex offenders throughout his career. Lauren also formed a nonprofit, Lauren's Kids.

Lauren has made sex abuse against children her own personal crusade, taking to TV and making public speaking appearances in Holland and South Africa.

Should she run, Lauren would be gunning for District 33, which covers Dania Beach and Hollywood. That district is currently held by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, whose term is up in 2016.

According to Broward Beat, Lauren may face competition from the likes of former Hollywood School Board member Jennifer Gottlieb, former state Sen. Steve Geller, and state Rep. Katie Edwards.

Still, whoever she faces, Lauren will get plenty of financial help from Ron's clients and friends. And, mostly, from Ron himself, who dropped a million bucks on Lauren's wedding back in 2009 that included $56,000 custom crystal-draped centerpieces and $9,000 custom butter creme paillette linen overlays flown in from India.

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