DeeDee Ritchie
Theresa G. "DeeDee" Ritchie (b. 1953) is a former educator who served in the Florida House of Representatives District 3 seat from 1998 to 2000.
| DeeDee Ritchie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 22, 1953 Leesville, Vernon Parish, LA |
| Occupation | Educator, state legislator, real estate agent |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Spouse | Buzz Ritchie (divorced) |
| Children | Jenny & Beau |
Ritchie was born on September 22, 1953, in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. Her parents were involved in the military and later IBM, frequently moving and eventually settling in Huntsville, Alabama. She earned her bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a master's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
With a career in education spanning 25 years, Ritchie taught high school government, history, law and economics. She was named Florida Teacher of the Year in 1990 and inducted into the Florida Educators Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 1998 she ran for and won the Florida House District 3 seat formerly occupied by her ex-husband, Buzz Ritchie, who retired after ten years in office. When term limits forced State Senator W. D. Childers from office in 2000, Ritchie ran for his seat, expressing a concern that the Pensacola area was losing representation to eastern areas of the district: "If we don't hold onto the seat, whether it's me or somebody else, I'm concerned that Escambia and Santa Rosa would not have the voice they need and deserve."[1] She was defeated by Durell Peaden.
In 2003, Ritchie and Film Commissioner Tom Roush launched the Pensacola Bay International Film & Television Festival "to showcase our beautiful Gulf Coast as a progressive area."[2] That same year, she and Cynthia Campfield began producing the BLAB-TV show "Yadda Yadda Yadda," a show on women's issues and relationship advice, and a complementary column in the Pensacola News Journal.[3]
She is currently a real estate agent with NAI Halford.[4]
Electoral history
| •REP | Durell Peaden | 82,774 |
|---|---|---|
| •DEM | DeeDee Ritchie | 59,743 |
| Preceded by: Buzz Ritchie |
Florida House of Representatives District 3 1998-2000 |
Succeeded by: Holly Benson |
References
- ↑ "Rep. Ritchie likely to run for state Senate." Pensacola News Journal, February 17, 2000.
- ↑ "Pensacola film festival seeks to build big-screen respect." Pensacola News Journal, September 7, 2002.
- ↑ "32 years of marriage, 7 careers, divorce and yadda yadda yadda." Pensacola News Journal, August 11, 2003.
- ↑ http://www.naihalford.com/default.aspx?tabid=1552&agentid=NAID00034574
- ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/news/vote2000/ssenate/flssenate.htm