Bill Galvano's Race for Senate President Gains Steam

The Bradenton Herald is reporting that Bill Galvano is well on his way to locking up the presidency of the Florida Senate in 2018.

According to Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, Galvano already holds signed pledges from most of his large Senate class. The Bradenton senator is eligible to serve 10 consecutive years in the Senate despite term limits because of redistricting.

Senate President Don Gaetz and former Senate heavyweights John Mckay and Mike Bennett also weighed in about Galvano's chances at the Senate presidency.

The Senate president did note that it was not his role to get actively involved in any Senate presidential elections occurring after his departure, but expressed confidence in Galvano's abilities to take the position.

"I believe Bill Galvano has all the tools to be Senate president," he said.

"I think you could say with confidence that's one of Bill's goals, and you also could say with confidence that Bill is well-respected among his peers, and I certainly hope he accomplishes his goal," said John McKay, a former Senate president.

"People have called and asked me, and I've told them I think he'd be a great Senate president," said Mike Bennett, who served in 2010 as the Senate's president pro-tempore."I think he's going to pull it off."

Galvano has been a rising star since his election to the Senate last November. He currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee.