Sen. Randolph Bracy and Rep. Kamia Brown each took their oath of office Jan. 5

OCOEE For both Sen. Randolph Bracy and Rep. Kamia Brown, their careers in politics have been years in the making.

But they both marked new milestones on Jan. 5 as they took their oaths of office during a ceremony held at the Ocoee City Hall. 

MEET RANDOLPH BRACY

Bracy’s involvement in politics began several years ago when his mother decided to run for school board and tapped her son to be her campaign manager. After that initial foray into politics, Bracy was hooked and worked on several campaigns before deciding to step into the spotlight himself.

“About six years ago, a dream came to me to run for the Florida House of Representatives - a dream that I believe came from God, a dream that I just tried to get away from but couldn’t,” Bracy said. “So I decided to answer that call and embark on this journey.”

He ran in 2012 and 2014 to represent District 45, which includes Winter Garden, Ocoee and Apopka, and won both elections. 

“There were starts and stops,”  Bracy said about his time serving as a representative. “There were some accomplishments, but there were many disappointments and frustrations.”

Instead of throwing in the towel, Bracy decided to run again in 2016, this time for the Florida Senate. His ultimate goal was to become the chair of the Criminal Justice Committee.

“It’s become a personal passion of mine to correct the inequities in the system,” he said.

He was told it was an impossible appointment, but after his election, the call came that he would get the seat he wanted.

“When (the Senate president) called me and told me I was the chairman, I thought he was joking,” Bracy said.

It’s a huge milestone not only for Bracy, but for the Florida Senate as well - there has never been an African-American person who has been named chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to make some reforms in our system,” Bracy said. “I’m happy and honored to have the opportunity to lead this effort.”

In his new role, Bracy said he plans to work towards a fairer system of sentencing for criminals and education of imprisoned criminals so they can support themselves after re-entering society. 

Bracy will also serve in several other committees, including Banking and Insurance, Judiciary, and the Sub-committee for Criminal Justice Appropriations.

MEET KAMIA BROWN

As a child, Brown can remember her many aspiration of becoming a public servant.

“I wanted to be a lawyer,” Brown said. “I wanted to be a politician. I wanted to work for the CIA. I wanted to work for the president. At the heart of that was my desire to make the world a better place - to serve and be a part of change.”

Brown originally began studying law with ambitions to become an attorney. But after a legislative internship, Brown decided to change her path. 

“I wanted to make a difference in the front end,” she said. “Instead of interpreting the law, I’d be able to make an impact by helping create laws that we live by each and every day.”

For the last 13 years, Brown worked in a variety of roles in Tallahassee. She resigned from her previous position in April 2016 to run for the Florida House of Representatives.

“It’s my first time running,” she said. “I had thought it in December (2015) and prayed and asked God to show me signs. It seemed like everything just fell in place. So I decided definitely in March that I would run.”

Although she’s a newbie to her role as a representative, she’s no stranger to life in Tallahassee and said she’s looking forward to going back and working with old colleagues.

“I already know the process very well,” she said about Florida politics. “I’m definitely ready to be that voice.”

Brown will serve on the Education Committee, Pre-K through Grade 12 Appropriations Subcommittee, Pre-K through Grade 12 Quality Subcommittee, Agriculture and Property Rights Subcommittee and the Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

Contact Brittany Gaines at [email protected].