Florida
Related: About this forumAlienGirl - Former Democratic state House candidate Shelly Leonard dies of cancer
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
CLEARWATER When she ran against incumbent state Rep. Ed Hooper in 2010, Shelly Leonard wasn't your typical candidate. She was a 37-year-old single mother and cancer survivor.
The feisty Democrat made her cancer history a part of her stump speech, talking about the need to make health insurance more accessible. More than 16,000 people voted for her in Clearwater-based House District 50. But nearly 24,000 voted to keep her opponent in office, so Leonard went back to her job as a social worker.
Last year, her oral cancer returned. On Saturday, she died due to complications from chemotherapy, just days before her 39th birthday. "She was fighting the cancer valiantly," said her friend and campaign treasurer, Van Farber. "She passed away peacefully, without pain, and surrounded by members of her immediate family."
<SNIP>
Celebration of Shelly Leonard's life
What: Dinner, live music and dancing
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25
Where: Fort Harrison Hotel, 210 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater
Admission: A $35 check made out to the Neighborhood Coalition to Preserve the MLK Center
Information: (727) 729-6887
More: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/former-democratic-state-house-candidate-shelly-leonard-dies-of-cancer/1215436
catbyte
(34,458 posts)RIP
Diane
Anishinaabe in MI
blm
(113,100 posts)Peace to her family and to all who loved her.
auntAgonist
(17,252 posts)She will be sorely missed.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101854174
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002302523
aA
kesha
csziggy
(34,138 posts)But the last time I had searched for information about her, I set up a news alert. It was always a relief when there were no hits because I was so worried about what a hit would be. But this morning the news alert was in my email.
Edited to add: I put this here in case any Florida DUers wanted to attend the celebration of her life at the event in the article.
She will be missed. She left us far too early and so young.
sinkingfeeling
(51,474 posts)progressoid
(49,999 posts)woofless
(2,670 posts)csziggy
(34,138 posts)tavalon
(27,985 posts)Bright blessings to Alien Girl and condolences to the family she leaves behind.
louslobbs
(3,238 posts)Lou
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)csziggy
(34,138 posts)What a beautiful woman. And what a loss.
babsbunny
(8,441 posts)As I know you will...........
Woody Woodpecker
(562 posts)Godspeed, Tucker.