Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, cautioned that a last-minute tweak to a couple of Central Florida districts in the redrawn Senate redistricting map could jeopardize the effort when it goes back before the state Supreme Court.
But Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who also chaired the Reapportionment Committee, said the changes make the districts more compact, which is one of the criteria under the voter-approved Fair Districts amendment that the states top court pointed to when invalidating part of the first map submitted by the Senate.
If anybody was looking for conspiracy or cabals on the Senate floor theyd have to be a little frustrated today, because President (Mike) Haridopolos told us all we needed to do was what was right and vote our conscience, Gaetz said.
Thrasher would eventually vote in favor of the map in which district lines along Hillsborough and Polk counties were redrawn as part of an amendment by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, that moved Plant City within a single, compact district.
Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, also questioned Latvalas amendment as potentially creating new problems and new issues, for the court. But she, too, voted for the map.
The Senate voted 31-6 Thursday -- five Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the map -- to send the revised effort to the House, which is expected to approve it a week before it is sent to the Supreme Court. The justices will then have 30 days to accept the changes or redraw the lines themselves.
Latvalas amendment didnt alter the anticipated GOP hold on the majority in the upper chamber -- based on voter registration numbers or eliminate the potential match-ups the new lines create pitting Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, against Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, and Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, against Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach.
Bogdanoff would be expected to have the tougher challenge because the district leans toward Democrats based on voter registration numbers.
Simmons repeated after the meeting that he would get out the moving van to relocate into the neighboring district that encompasses most of the area he has been representing if the lines hold through the House approval and court review.
Ill just have to move about a mile, Simmons said.
The Latvala amendment could allow Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, and former state Rep. Bill Galvano to avoid going head to head in the fall.
In rejecting the Senate map on March 9, the court ruled eight of the 40 new districts failed to meet the Fair Districts requirements that new lines not favor incumbents, be compact and follow geographic and government lines. The court also criticized the Senates new district numbering method, stating it could have extended the terms of sitting legislators beyond the state term-limit requirements.
Before accepting Latvalas amendment, senators rejected a number of amendments to Gaetzs redistricting effort.
Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, tried to revisit the numbering for the districts -- conducted in a random drawing on Wednesday -- to make all seats that an incumbent may seek this fallbe for two-year terms.
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, proposed redrawing the map to drop Volusia County from the new District 6, shifting the district to include part of Clay County, at the same time shifting the dominance of registered voters in the district from Republican to Democrat.
Smith also sought to shift boundary lines in Palm Beach County to run along State Road 441, but Gaetz said the move would break up lines that keep cities such as Lake Park within single districts.
After voting against the map, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, argued it would be found unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court didnt just tell us what we needed to do. They gave us the road map to get there, and their directions were ignored, Rich said. When the people said they wanted fair districts, they meant it. Unfortunately, it seems they will have to wait for the Supreme Court to get them."
Also, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, withdrew an amendment to the Senates redistricting effort that sought a fourth Hispanic seat in Southeast Florida -- a seat now held by Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami. De la Portilla's brother, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, is seeking the seat.
Under the map submitted by Diaz de la Portilla, Hispanic registration would increase in Margolis' district to 66 percent from the 49 percent for the district under the map going before the Senate on Thursday.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
