Scott Franklin (politician)

Clifford Scott Franklin (born August 23, 1964)[1][2] is an American politician and businessman who has served in the United States House of Representatives since 2021. He represented Florida's 15th congressional district from 2021 to 2023, and has represented Florida's 18th district since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Scott Franklin
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byRoss Spano
Constituency15th district (2021–2023)
18th district (2023–present)
Member of the Lakeland City Commission
from the Southeast district
In office
January 1, 2018 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byEdie Yates
Succeeded byDon Selvage
Personal details
Born (1964-08-23) August 23, 1964
Thomaston, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAmy Wood
Children3
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (MBA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1986–2012
RankCommander

Early life and career

Born in Thomaston, Georgia, Franklin was raised in Lakeland, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 and served in the United States Navy as a Naval Aviator flying the S-3 Viking off of multiple aircraft carriers and routinely deploying overseas.[3][4][5] Franklin later earned a Master of Business Administration from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College.[6]

Career

Franklin spent 26 years in the Navy, 14 on active duty and 12 in the Naval Reserve, including being mobilized/recalled to active duty with U.S. Central Command after the September 11 attacks. He retired with the rank of Commander.[7][3]

In 2000, Franklin joined Lanier Upshaw, an insurance agency, and became its chief executive officer.[8] In 2017, he was elected as a city commissioner for the Southeast district of Lakeland, Florida, succeeding longtime incumbent Edie Yates.[9] Because of his run for Congress, Franklin was required to resign his seat on the city commission; he chose to make his resignation effective on January 3, 2021, the day he was sworn into Congress.[10] Franklin was succeeded on the city commission by Don Selvage, a former commissioner who held the seat as an interim appointee from January 4 until the April 6 special election to fill the vacancy.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives

2020
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 15
Scott and his wife Amy with House minority leader Kevin McCarthy

In March 2020, Franklin announced his primary bid against freshman congressman Ross Spano, who was facing investigation by federal investigators over financial irregularities.[12] Franklin won the primary, receiving his party’s nomination for the general election,[13][14] in which he defeated Democratic nominee Alan Cohn.[15]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[16]

Caucus memberships

Electoral history
Lakeland City Commissioner Southeast district election, 2017[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Scott Franklin 8,394 64.6
Nonpartisan Sandy Toledo 4,604 35.4
Total votes 12,998 100.0
Florida's 15th congressional district Republican primary, 2020[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Franklin 30,736 51.2
Republican Ross Spano (incumbent) 29,265 48.8
Total votes 60,001 100.0
Florida's 15th congressional district election, 2020[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Franklin 216,374 55.4
Democratic Alan Cohn 174,297 44.6
Total votes 390,671 100.0
Republican hold
Florida's 18th congressional district election, 2022[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Franklin (incumbent) 167,429 74.7
Independent Keith Hayden Jr 56,647 25.3
Independent Leonard Serratore (write-in) 158 0.1
Total votes 224,234 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Franklin is a Presbyterian.[22]

References
  1. Choi, Joseph (November 30, 2020). "Rep.-elect Scott Franklin (R-Fla.-15)". The Hill. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. "Scott Franklin". Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  3. "Scott Franklin for Congress". www.votescottfranklin.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  4. "Scott Franklin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. Kimberly C. Moore (November 19, 2018). "Commission confirms money for monument move - News - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Ledger. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  6. "Commissioner Scott Franklin". City of Lakeland. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. "Scott Franklin | City of Lakeland". www.lakelandgov.net. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  8. John Ceballos (December 29, 2016). "Lanier Upshaw Insurance commemorates 75 years in business - News - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  9. John Chambliss (November 7, 2017). "Scott Franklin cruises to victory in Lakeland's Southeast race". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  10. Sara-Megan Walsh (September 20, 2020). "Interim Lakeland commissioner sought to fill Franklin's seat". The Ledger. The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  11. Sara-Megan Walsh (October 6, 2020). "Selvage to serve second time as Lakeland's interim commissioner". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  12. "Lakeland Commissioner files to challenge Rep. Ross Spano in GOP primary". Tampa Bay Times. March 17, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  13. "Scott Franklin ousts Ross Spano in 15th Congressional District primary". Tampa Bay Times. August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  14. Mazzei, Patricia; Shear, Michael D.; Newman, Andy (August 19, 2020). "Representative Ross Spano of Florida loses Republican primary". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  15. Taylor, Janelle Irwin (November 4, 2020). "Scott Franklin holds onto CD 15 for the GOP, bests Alan Cohn". Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. "C. Scott Franklin". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  17. "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  18. "2017 November Municipal Election". Polk County Supervisor of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  19. "August 18, 2020 Primary Election Official Results". Florida Department of State - Division of Elections. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  20. "November 3, 2020 General Election". Florida Department of State. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  21. "November 8, 2022 General Election - Official Results". Florida Department of State.
  22. "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023.

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