Buddy MacKay 1998-1999 Jeb Bush 1999-2000

Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from Florida. Nelson is a member of the Democratic Party. Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space (after Jake Garn) when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as a Payload Specialist during NASA mission STS-61-C (January 12–18, 1986). Bill Nelson lives in the Baldwin Park neighborhood of Orlando (as does former Republican Senator Mel Martinez) and Washington. The Orlando Sentinel named him among the top 25 most powerful people in Central Florida. Nelson is also a member of The Family.

Nelson was born in Miami to Nannie Merle and C. W. Nelson. He spent his formative years in Melbourne, Florida, where he attended public school. In his youth, he served as the world's International President of Key Club. He attended the University of Florida for three years, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and then transferred to Yale University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1965. During his time at Yale, Nelson was tapped for membership in the University's secret society, Book and Snake. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1965 to 1971. During this time, Nelson studied at the University of Virginia, where he received his law degree in 1968.