With 40 new members taking their seats as the House convenes for a special session on Tuesday, incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, named committee chairs on Monday morning, adding to his leadership team.
Committee chairs must be fair and honest brokers in the process, must show discernment, and must be students of public policy, wrote Cannon in the memo sent out to House members. A chair must take the time to listen to opposing sides of important issues and guide the committee to focus on quality legislation. A chair should also be a mentor and guide to the subcommittee chairs and to the members within the committee structure. With that in mind, I am announcing the following appointments as committee chairs, all of whom have proven their leadership skills and earned my full trust and faith through consistency, hard work, and good decision-making.
Cannon named Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, to head up Economic Affairs; the committee oversees transportation, development, insurance, consumer affairs, gaming and banking. First elected in 2004, Hukill served as chair of the Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee. Hukill, who represents part of Volusia County, has her eyes on the other branch of the Legislature and is expected to run for the state Senate when she faces term limits in 2012.
With a lengthy service as chancellor of Flagler College and the higher education appropriation committees, its no surprise to see Cannon name Rep. William Proctor, R-St. Augustine, to chair the Education Committee. Proctor, who represents parts of Clay, Flagler and St. Johns counties, certainly has the academic credentials. First elected to the House in 2004, Proctor holds a Ph.D. from Florida State University and has had stints at the state Board of Education and the Education Standards Commission.
As he starts his third term in the House, Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Winter Garden, will lead the Finance and Tax Committee. Representing parts of Lake, Orange and Osceola counties, Precourt has served on the Economic Development Policy Committee and chaired the State University and Private Colleges Policy Committee.
Cannon named Rep. Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill, who is also starting his third term, to head up the Health and Human Services Committee, which oversees health care and social services. Schenck, who represents parts of Hernando, Pasco and Sumter counties, served on the Health and Family Services Policy Council and chaired the Governmental Affairs Policy Committee.
Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, will take over the Judiciary Committee. While Snyder is not an attorney, he did have a career in law enforcement, including serving as a director of law enforcement with the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Snyder, who represents parts of Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, chaired the Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council and was on the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee.
With incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, tapping Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, to handle redistricting on the Senate side, Cannon also tapped one of the leading members of his caucus to lead the matter on the House side. Cannon turned to Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who should be speaker after the 2012 elections, to handle redistricting. Like Gaetz, Weatherford, who represents parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, was a staunch opponent of two constitutional amendments approved by Florida voters on Election Day changing the way the Legislature could draw up districts.
Cannon named Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, to lead the State Affairs Committee which handles agriculture, the environment, utilities and energy. First elected in 2006, McKeel, who represents parts of Hillsborough and Polk counties, served on eight committees and councils during the last legislative session.
These appointments, along with my previous appointments of Representatives Denise Grimsley and Gary Aubuchon to chair Appropriations and Rules respectively, and my selection of Representatives John Legg and Carlos Lopez-Cantera as speaker pro tempore and majority leader, round out the senior leadership team of the Florida House for the 2010-2012 Legislature, wrote Cannon. He added that he would name subcommittee chairs before Dec. 6.
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Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
