M. Mandy Dawson

M. Mandy Dawson ( Muriel Mandy Dawson; July 18, 1956) was a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 29th District from 1999 to 2008. Previously she was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1993 through 1998.

Early life and education Dawson was born in Fort Lauderdale and moved to Daytona Beach when she was six years old. She attended Florida A&M University from 1975 to 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from Barry University.

Career She was the first African-American female elected to the Florida Legislature from Broward County.

Personal life She married Hobson Bethune, a retired Marine and longtime youth athletics coach, in 2010.

On July 20, 2011, Dawson was charged with federal income tax evasion and failure to file tax returns. In court papers filed in early February 2012, Dawson signaled her intention to plead guilty to the tax evasion charges.