THE P ROCESS
DEMOCRATIC SEN. LAUREN BOOK, SENATE DISTRICT 32 Lauren Book’s life is about to get crazy. Not that it wasn’t already. At 32, Book has already started her own nonprofit aimed at preventing sexual abuse; written two books, including a memoir; given a TED Talk at Oxford New Theatre in Oxford, England; and walked more than 7,700 miles as part of her “Walk in My Shoes” campaign. But now she is adding two more things to her resume: State senator and new mom. Book gave birth to twins earlier this year, and will have both newborns with her in Tallahassee throughout session. “For me, it’s important … when mommy brings value to the family,” says Book, the daughter of legendary lobbyist Ron Book. “It’s all about the next generation, and it’s all about having civic-minded children.” Book is well-known in the process, having spent her spring breaks in the capital city with her father. She’s also well-known in her own right, spending years advocating for children and victims of sexual abuse. It’s a deeply personal issue for Book, who endured sexual abuse for six years at the hands of a trusted caretaker. Even though she has been successful in making the state a safer place for kids and families, she said there were still things to do. She says she knew there was “only so much you can do from the outside looking in,” and decided it was time for her to become part of the process. While child protection remains a top priority for Book, she also hopes to focus on a wide variety of issues during her time in Tallahassee. She’s chairwoman of the chamber’s Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and the vice chairwoman of the Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. And her future as a leader in the Democratic Party has already been secured. In November, Book was named Democratic Leader Pro Tempore by her caucus members, making her one of the highest ranking Democrats in the chamber. “I’m really lucky that I’ve grown up in the process,” she says. “These folks aren’t just colleagues, they’re friends.” 102 | INFLUENCE SPRING 2017