Jared Moskowitz
Jared Moskowitz
Born/Date of Birth: December 18, 1980
Place of Birth: Coral Springs, Florida, United States
Political party: Democratic
Spouse(s): Leah Rifkin Moskowitz
Alma mater: George Washington University (BS), Nova Southeastern University (JD), Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Profession: Attorney
Jared Evan Moskowitz (born December 18, 1980) is a Democratic politician from Florida. He has served as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management since being appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2019. Previously, he served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the Coral Springs area in northern Broward County, from 2012 to 2019.
History
Moskowitz was born in Coral Springs, and attended George Washington University, receiving his Bachelor's degree in political science, and then Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, receiving his Juris Doctor. He worked as an intern for Vice-President Al Gore, served as an assistant on Joe Lieberman's 2004 presidential campaign, and in 2008 served as one of Barack Obama's electors in Florida. While attending law school, Moskowitz was elected to the Parkland City Commission in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010, serving until he resigned to run for the legislature in 2012. While serving as a City Commissioner, Moskowitz supported efforts to make the city more eco-friendly by providing subsidies to households that purchase low-flow toilets and showerheads, energy-efficient air conditioners, and hybrid cars, noting, "We will literally issue them a check. We're sick of waiting for the federal government to do something, so we've got to do what we can." Following graduation, he started working for AshBritt Environmental as their Director of Government Relations and General Counsel.
Florida House of Representatives
When the state legislative districts were redrawn in 2012, Moskowitz opted to run in the newly drawn 97th District, which consisted of northern Broward County. He won the Democratic primary entirely uncontested, and advanced to the general election, where he faced James Gleason, the Republican nominee and a business owner who was an unsuccessful candidate for Mayor of Coral Springs. The Sun-Sentinel praised both candidates as "good choices for an open seat," but ultimately decided to endorse Moskowitz, declaring that his "good grasp of statewide and local issues" made him the better candidate. He ended up defeating Gleason in a landslide, winning with 69% of the vote.
During his first term in the legislature, Moskowitz sponsored a memorial for Robert Levinson, who has been held as a hostage in Iran since 2007, calling on "Congress, the Obama administration and the Secretary of State's office to work to get Levinson home." Moskowitz's proposed memorial passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by Governor Rick Scott.
In 2014 and 2016, Moskowitz was re-elected to his second term in the legislature without opposition.
Division of Emergency Management
On December 6, 2018, Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis announced he would appoint Moskowitz as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management in his new administration. Moskowitz resigned from the House of Representatives and took office as DEM director on January 15, 2019.
