Don Gaetz Faces Tall Task at Senate Reapportionment Committee

Sen. Don Gaetz will be walking point on what will likely be the most politically charged issue facing the Legislature: reapportionment.

The Niceville Republican will chair the Senate Reapportionment Committee.

As if that weren't enough, Gaetz also will chair the Appropriations Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, Transportation and Economic Development. He is the only senator to chair two committees.

But Senate President Mike Haridopolos figures that Gaetz, a former superintendent of Okaloosa County schools and an all-around workhorse, is up to the task(s). He chaired three panels last session, including the Select Committee on Florida's Economy.

With the passage of Amendments 5 and 6, and the attendant threat of lawsuits, the job of redrawing new legislative and congressional districts looks to be more complicated than ever.