Reid Moore Jr.

Reid Moore Jr. (born September 27, 1934) is an American former politician in the state of Florida who served two non-consecutive terms in the Florida House of Representatives and as Mayor of West Palm Beach. Born in Tennessee, he earned a law degree from the University of Virginia before moving to Florida in 1959. Moore soon became involved with local politics in West Palm Beach, beginning with serving as a member of the Greater West Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 1963. Two years later, he mounted a successful campaign for city commissioner, an office he would hold from 1965 to 1969. During his tenure, he was chosen by his fellow commissioners to be Mayor of West Palm Beach from 1967 to 1968, as the city operated under the Council–manager form of government at the time.

Reid Moore Jr.
Moore in 1980
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 81st district
In office
1980–1982
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 79th district
In office
1976–1978
Mayor of West Palm Beach
In office
1967–1968
Preceded byC. Harold Earnest
Succeeded byDavid H. Brady
Personal details
Born (1934-09-27) September 27, 1934
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Political partyRepublican
ResidencePalm Beach, Florida
Occupationattorney

After leaving office as a city commissioner of West Palm Beach, Moore was elected to 79th district of the Florida House of Representatives in 1976 and served one term before losing re-election in 1978. However, he made another successful run for office in 1980, this time for the 81st district of the Florida House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Moore attended Baylor School as a boy,[1] before going to Yale University, where he earned a B.A. in 1956. Continuing his education, he went to the University of Virginia School of Law and completed a LL.B. in 1959. That same year, he moved to Florida and soon practiced law with his father.[2]

Political career

By 1963, Moore was involved with the local government of West Palm Beach, serving as a member of the Greater West Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He sought political office for the first time in 1965, running for Group E of the West Palm Beach City Commission. He pledged cooperation with citizens and fellow commissioners, while emphasizing the need for improvements to downtown, the local tourism industry, and major roads.[1] His campaign was successful and he led his nearest opponent—three-time commissioner Sylvan B. Burdick—by a vote of 3,511 to 1,988.[3]

Moore was sworn into office as a city commissioner on March 31, 1965.[3] During his tenure, the city commissioners unanimously selected Moore to serve as Mayor of West Palm Beach from 1967 to 1968, under the Council–manager form of government.[4] After four years on the city commission Moore declined to run for re-election for his seat and was succeeded by Francis H. Foster Jr. in March 1969.[5]

He served as a Republican in the Florida House of Representatives from 1976 to 1978, representing the 79th district.[2] During his 1976 campaign for that office, Moore's slogan was "We need More in Tallahassee."[6] He described himself as a "moderate conservative" and ran on his record as city commissioner and Mayor of West Palm Beach, including establishing the Downtown Development Authority.[7] After losing re-election to Eleanor Weinstock in 1978, he mounted another successful campaign for Florida House of Representatives in 1980 this time representing the 81st district from 1980 to 1982.[8][9]

Memberships

Moore currently is or has been a member of several clubs and civic organizations, including the American Bar Association, American Red Cross, Forum Club of Palm Beaches, Fraternal Order of Police, Jaycees of West Palm Beach, Northwood Lodge and Amara Shrine, United Fund, West Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the YMCA.[2]

References
  1. "Reid Moore Jr". The Palm Beach Post. February 21, 1965. p. D13. Retrieved August 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Representative Reid Moore Jr". Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. "Newly-elected Group E City Commissioner selected". The Palm Beach Post. April 1, 1965. p. 7. Retrieved August 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "City Board picks Moore for mayor". The Palm Beach Post. March 30, 1967. p. A7. Retrieved August 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Anthony, Wilson run today". The Palm Beach Post. April 1, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "What's in a slogan?". The Palm Beach Post. August 29, 1976. p. B8. Retrieved August 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "State House – District 79". Fort Lauderdale News. October 24, 1976. p. 2C. Retrieved August 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives (2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845–2012" (PDF). Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  9. "House of Representatives". Retrieved 29 November 2014.
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