Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) today announced the appointments of former State Senator Lisa Carlton (R-Sarasota) and Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos to the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council.
“An experienced public servant, during her time serving on the 2018 Constitution Revision Commission, Senator Carlton co-sponsored a proposal that became Amendment 9, which expands the existing ban on tobacco smoking in indoor workplaces to include vaping,” said President Galvano. “I know Senator Carlton is committed to ensuring our youth understand the risks associated with tobacco use, and appreciate her willingness to represent the Senate as part of this effort.”
An eighth generation Floridian, former Senator Lisa Carlton is the co-owner and manager of the Mabry Carlton Ranch, Inc., a family-owned citrus and cattle ranch in Sarasota County. After graduating from Mercer University, Senator Carlton practiced law in Sarasota County for several years before entering public service. She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1994, and to the Florida Senate in 2002, where she served a term as President Pro Tempore from 2006-2008. Senator Carlton is a member of the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, a certified volunteer Guardian ad Litem, and a founding member of the Florida Historic Capitol Foundation. Most recently, she served as a gubernatorial appointee to the 2018 Florida Constitution Revision Commission.
“As a family physician for nearly 20 years, Dr. Haridopolos has seen firsthand the impacts of various forms of tobacco use on patients of all ages. With new developments in the delivery and usage of tobacco products, including the sudden and severe impacts of vaping we have seen reported in recent months, I know her perspective will be invaluable as we work to educate young Floridians about the health hazards of tobacco use. I am grateful for her willingness to serve the Senate in this important capacity,” said President Galvano.
Dr. Haridopolos is a board-certified family medicine physician. She completed her residency at Albany Medical Center in New York. Dr. Haridopolos was appointed by former Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Board of Medicine in May 2017, where she most recently served as Chair of the Rules and Legislative Committee and Vice-Chair of the Probation Committee. In 2018, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis appointed Dr. Haridopolos as Chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Board of Directors. She previously held positions with former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Statewide Drug Task Force and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Foundation.
In 2006, Florida voters approved Section 27, Article X of the State Constitution, which requires the funding of a statewide tobacco education and use prevention program that focuses on tobacco use by youth. In order to implement this amendment, the Legislature created the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council within the Department of Health to advise the State Surgeon General as to the direction and scope of the program.
