State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, expanded her portfolio in Tallahassee last week, the latest up in what has been somewhat of a roller coaster political career.
Senate President Joe Negron’s, R-Palm City, reshuffled his committees last week, naming Stewart vice chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee.
“I’m honored, especially as a freshman senator, to be given the responsibility of a vice chairpersonship and help set—for the first time in a long, long time in Florida—a more conservation-friendly agenda in Tallahassee,” Stewart said after receiving her new assignments.
The Orange County Democrat highlighted her new seat on the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
“I’m honored, especially as a freshman senator, to be given the responsibility of a vice chairpersonship and help set—for the first time in a long, long time in Florida—a more conservation-friendly agenda in Tallahassee,” Stewart said.
“I’m also excited by the opportunity to fight for important dollars to fund programs and new construction at Valencia College, the University of Central Florida, Barry University School of Law, and Full Sail University as a member of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee," she continued. "These institutions are a vital part of the community—and of Central Florida’s economy—and I look forward to providing them with the resources they need to help anyone who wants to attend achieve their dreams.”
Over the last two decades, Stewart has had a bumpy political career with more than her share of highs and lows, though.
Stewart lost a bid for the Orange County Commission in 1998 but bounced back two years later to defeat incumbent Clarence Hoenstine.
In 2006, Stewart won a second term but she flopped four years later when she ran to be mayor of Orange County, finishing behind Teresa Jacobs and Bill Segal.
Stewart’s fortunes changed in 2012 when she defeated former Rep. Bob Brooks to win an open Florida House seat. Two years later, Stewart suffered a reversal when Republican Mike Miller edged her in the general election.
After the latest round of redistricting,Stewart ran for the state Senate in 2016 and stressed her liberal credentials. Stewart upended former Rep. Mike Clelland in the primary, beating him 43 percent to 34 percent while Rick Roach placed third with 23 percent. In November, Stewart handily defeated Republican Dean Asher, flipping the seat which had been held by retiring Senate President Andy Gardiner.
The district was far more favorable to the Democrats after the latest round of redistricting.
