Gaston Cantens

Gaston Ignacio Cantens[1] (born October 25, 1961) is an American politician from Miami, Florida.[2] Described as a "onetime influential member of the Florida House of Representatives",[3] Cantens served on the body from 1998 to 2004, and at one time was considered likely to become its speaker.[4] Cantens is currently a Vice President at Florida Crystals.[5]

Gaston I. Cantens
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 114th district
In office
1998–2004
Preceded byJorge Rodriguez-Chomat
Succeeded byAnitere Flores
Personal details
Born
Gaston Ignacio Cantens

(1961-10-25) October 25, 1961
Miami, Florida
SpouseAna
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Miami (BA)
St. Thomas University (JD)

Early life and education

Cantwens was born October 25, 1961, in Miami, Florida. Cantens' father, Gaston E. Cantens, was a former advisory board member at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and a local leader in the Cuban-American community.[6]

Cantens graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1979.[7] He then received a B.A. from the University of Miami in 1982 and graduated from St. Thomas University Law School in 1992.

Political career

He worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida (1995–1998). He was a Director of the Dade County Bar Association (1996-1999) and a Director of the Cuban-American Bar Association (1997). He was also briefly the head basketball coach at Barry University.[8]

Cantens was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a Republican for District 114 in 1998 and reelected for two more terms. According to The New York Times, Cantens was considered likely to become Speaker of the Florida House in the early 2000s, but the position instead went to Marco Rubio.[4] Rubio reportedly took the position over Gantens, who had desired the speakership, through the support of legislator Allan Bense.[9]

Personal life

Cantens is currently an executive of Florida Crystals Corporation and a leader of their public policy agenda.[10] Cantens' father, Gaston E. Cantens, was sentenced to five years in prison on ponzi scheme charges in 2013.[11]

References
  1. "Lawyer Directory – The Florida Bar". Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  2. "Florida House of Representatives Biographical Information".
  3. Company, Tampa Publishing. "Judge gives Miami businessman, Gaston E. Cantens, five years for ponzi scheme". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  4. Peters, Jeremy W. (2015-10-21). "Marco Rubio's Ambition, and Sharp Elbows, Fueled His Rise in Tallahassee". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  5. "Biography from chli.org" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25.
  6. Munzenrieder, Kyle. "Belén Jesuit Ponzi Schemer Gaston E. Cantens Sentenced to Five Years Behind Bars". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  7. The International Jesuit Alumni Directory Belen (Forum Press Inc., 1994)
  8. "Creola named coach at Barry University". Florida Today. April 4, 1986. p. 20. Retrieved May 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. Company, Tampa Publishing. "RUBIO'S STYLE IS DREAM BIG". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  10. State of Florida
  11. Herald, Miami. "Judge gives 'Little Madoff' Gaston E. Cantens five years in prison for ponzi scheme | Naked Politics". miamiherald.typepad.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
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