MEET DANA

Dana Duden Young, a sixth generation Floridian, was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. In November 2010, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, District 60 (Tampa), where she continues the proud family tradition of public service after her father Don Duden (Former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection), her grandfather, Former Florida Senate President Randolph Hodges, and her uncle, Rep. Gene Hodges who also served in the Florida House of Representatives.

Dana is a product of the Florida public school system, and received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Florida State University. In pursuit of her interest of the law and public policy, Dana graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1993, and then returned home to Florida to begin her legal career at Fowler, White, Boggs, P.A. As a member of the firm’s Regulated Industries Department, Dana represented a broad spectrum of businesses, landowners, and individuals in areas of regulatory compliance, permitting, zoning, and administrative law proceedings.

Dana received broad recognition for her work in the 2011 Legislative Session including the Florida Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Advocate Award, the AIF Champion For Business Award, the Florida Ports Council Tug Boat Award, the American Cancer Society 2011 State Legislative Award, the Grey2K 2011 National Legislator of the Year Award, and the Florida Council of Community Mental Health Centers Legislative Leader of the Year Award. She was also appointed by the Speaker of the House as the Deputy Majority Whip for the 2011 and 2012 session.

She and her husband, Matt, have been married for over 20 years and have two daughters, Alexandra (13) and Carson (11). Dana is an active volunteer for Alex and Carson’s school, sports teams, and the Girl Scouts of America. Dana is also a member of the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee, the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, the Florida Junior League Advisory Board, the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and the Hillsborough Women’s Republican Club.