About Maria
She and her husband, Peter, are the proud parents of three children who were born, raised and schooled in Palm Beach County: Natasha, Marcello, and Taylor.
Maria’s story has its roots in a World War II romance. Her father, born and raised on a Michigan dairy farm, was a commissioned officer in the United States Army Infantry in World War II. Having traveled up through the Italian coast to liberate Italy, he was struck by the beauty of a young girl in Napoli. They fell in love, and the two of them married and returned back to his dairy farm in Michigan. Maria’s mother was so proud of becoming an American citizen, and she instilled in Maria a strong sense of American patriotism.
Maria’s first experience in serving others began in her youth, when her father returned to military service and brought his family to Southeast Asia. She volunteered at the Malaria Control Center in upcountry Thailand while her father served in Vietnam and was gone for months at a time. She also worked as a nurse’s assistant at the Air Force military hospital in Korat Thailand. After earning an undergraduate and a master’s degree, Maria became a lecturer of International Politics for the University of Maryland at U.S, military bases throughout Western Europe and North Africa.
Assistant State Attorney
Never forgetting her family’s values on education, Maria returned to the United States to pursue a law degree at the University of Miami. She become an editor on the staff of the International Law Review. Upon graduation, she was offered a position with the newly appointed State Attorney, Janet Reno. As an Assistant State Attorney, Maria specialized in representing victims against violent crimes. After marriage to Peter Sachs, Maria and her new family settled in Palm Beach County.
Small Business Owner
She has been a successful professional, maintaining offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
Her ties to the community are strong and lasting. She is founder and president of a professional women’s organization, the Women for Excellence (WE). The WE has over 150 members and continues to meet monthly. She was also the past president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Broward Chapter, and is a member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Executive Women’s Organization and NOW.
Veterans Support
Maria has a profound attachment to America’s veterans, from her father, Russell. For the last seven years of his life, Russell was a resident at the Extended Care Facility of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She has seen firsthand the lack of adequate treatment for our nation’s most treasured servicemen, and is absolutely committed to improving the lives of our retired veterans and all current servicemen and women. Her first bill as a State Representative endows certain benefits to our veterans in honor of their service, lest they ever be forgotten.
Education as a Priority
Growing up in a multicultural household, Maria is keenly aware of our American tapestry. She understood the needs of Florida’s students to compete in a global economy. To this end, she sponsored a bill that expands the number of foreign languages available for teacher certification from 4 to 15. This foresight will help fuel Florida’s need for high-tech workers and encourage the business community to find a highly-skilled labor force right here in our state.
A Vision for Florida
The story doesn’t end here. Maria’s commitment to the people of Palm Beach county extends beyond mortgage foreclosure workshops, anti-gang summits, and constitutional advocacy. Her work is the embodiment of the values set by her parents, and are what she hopes to set as an example to her own children.