Haridopolos Touts Bipartisanship in Vice Chair Appointments

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, revealed his vice chair appointments Thursday, and was keen to point out his efforts to put Democrats in their favored positions, where possible.

"Every member of the Senate represents Florida and it's only fair that every senator have a committee leadership position. Based on their individual requests, 77 percent of senators received their first, second or third choice as a committee chair or vice chair. Ten of 11 Democrats are either chairing a committee or are the vice chair of the committee they said was their No. 1 choice," Haridopolos said.

The following Democrats received vice chair appointments: Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami (Agriculture; Education and Pre K-12), Christopher Smith, D-West Palm Beach (Communications, Energy and Public Utilities; Banking and Insurance), Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach (Regulated Industries), Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville (Children, Family and Elder Affairs; Military Affairs, Space and Domestic Security), Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood (Health Regulations), Gary Siplin, D-Orlando (Higher Education; Governmental Oversight and Accountability), Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa (Judiciary; Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations), Gwen Margolis, D-Miami Beach (Reapportionment; Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development), Nan Rich, D-Sunrise (Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Appropriation), Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee (Subcommittee on Education and Pre K-12 Appropriations).