Mark Pafford Running for Speaker of the House

Submitted by Anonymous on September 24, 2013 - 9:21am

After Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, was ousted as the next Democratic leader of the Florida House, Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, announced Tuesday that he intended to run for speaker of the Florida House of Representatives for the 2014-2016 term.

Pafford was first elected to the House in 2008 and was re-elected to serve a third term in the Florida Legislature in 2012. In 2013 he was selected as "Middle Class Champion" for the third consecutive year.

Pafford hails from rural Dade County and served as a congressional aide to Democratic Congressman Lawrence J. Smith from 1989 to 1992. He moved to Palm Beach County in 1993.Pafford has helped organize opposition to state budget cuts proposed by Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature since the governor took office in 2011.

House Democrats will meet again on Wednesday to name a replacement for Rouson. Other names including Pafford's that are being bandied about are Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville; and Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee.

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