Holly Benson


Anna Holliday "Holly" Benson was a member of the Florida House of Representatives. In November 2000, Benson became the first Republican elected to the District 3 seat, succeeding Democrat DeeDee Ritchie. On December 28, 2006, Florida's Governor-elect Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida. In February, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Benson to the position of Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Personal background

Benson was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and moved to Miami, Florida in 1976. She is a graduate of Pensacola's Booker T. Washington High School, Dartmouth College and the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. Benson was employed as a municipal bond lawyer, prior to her appointment to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in December 2006. In 2008, Benson took over as secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. She replaced Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, who is separating from the Administration after a little more than year on the job, to return to the private sector in Washington state. Agwunobi stated "It's with great sadness that we're announcing my departure today. Unfortunately my plans to relocate my family to Tallahassee have not worked," he said.

Legislative service

Representative Benson previously served in the Florida House of Representatives as the Chair of the Health and Families Council, as well as Co-Chair of the Select Committee on Medicaid Reform. Benson also chaired the Select Committee on Article V, which was tasked with implementing a 1998 constitutional amendment that required a major overhaul of the Florida state court system.
On December 31, 2006, Benson resigned from the Florida House of Representatives, ending her legislative service to the State of Florida.

Previous council and committee memberships