In one of the most important congressional races in 2012, in a district won by Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama, Lois Frankel is one of most impressive and dynamic Democratic candidates in the nation. Lois knows how to get things done. She is a tireless, passionate and effective advocate for South Florida's families and seniors. As West Palm Beach’s mayor, Lois brought people together to get things done where others have either failed or not even made the attempt. Lois’ opponent, Congressman Allen West, is a Tea Party favorite who has voted to destroy Medicare, let oil companies keep their deficit busting tax loopholes while cutting programs for young people to help them afford a college education and who said that "the women of Planned Parenthood neutering American men.”

Beginning her career as young attorney in West Palm Beach, Ms. Frankel established and later became president of the Palm Beach County Association of Women Lawyers. Her lifelong work on important social issues also started here where she was a founder of West Palm Beach's first domestic assault shelter now known as Harmony House.

Ms. Frankel started her political career in 1986 when she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. Known for her hard work and open door to constituents, she was re-elected 6 times and served a total of fourteen years. Her ability to unite elected officials resulted in her rise to the position of Minority Leader, the first Democratic woman so designated in Florida history.

Representative Frankel earned a reputation for being an energetic champion of Florida's children, seniors, and working families. She led efforts to reduce family violence and tackle the tobacco industry's targeting of minors. This reputation paved the way to the position she now holds, Mayor of the city of West Palm Beach.

A resident since 1974, Ms. Frankel was elected Mayor in March of 2003. Following four years of rapid improvement in all areas of the city and by focusing on quality of life issues for her residents she was reelected to a second term in a landslide vote of support in March 2007. She currently serves as the chief executive officer of Palm Beach County's largest and busiest city.

As Mayor, Ms. Frankel has promoted an energetic agenda. Her budgets have focused on increased public safety measures. Under her administration, major affordable housing efforts are underway as part of the plan to clean up blighted neighborhoods. Bringing the City Hall and Library to the heart of the city is paying big dividends with tangible results. The Downtown has been revitalized with new businesses and new residents moving to the city. Opening the views to West Palm's greatest liquid asset, the intracoastal, by creation of a multi-million dollar waterfront opened new green space and created a premier entertainment destination. These projects, completed within a year of each other, became the dynamic duo powering an economic rebound in the City during tough times for the nation.

Lois Frankel was born in New York and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Boston University. She also holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. The Mayor has one child, a son, Benjamin, who served as a reserve Captain in the United States Marines. Mayor Frankel is an avid modernist painter in her leisure time.

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