New Leaders Named in the House

On Tuesday, Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, named more chairs and vice chairs of the House committees that will shape legislation and laws in Florida for the next two years.

In evaluating this next round of assignments, I focused primarily on how individual members will best be able to serve the Florida House, noted Cannon.I considered each members legislative service, work ethic, policy expertise, process expertise, experience in policy or budget, standing among and relationship to their colleagues, attitude, and own self-reflection on their service in the Legislature. Whenever possible, I factored into that equation individual member preferences.

Cannon emphasized that he was appointing chairs and vice chairs with experience in the House.

I have limited chair and vice chair assignments to those members with whom I have personally served at least one legislative year, which I define as a full complement of committee weeks and a full legislative session, noted Cannon.

In terms of the House leadership, Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, will be aided by Rep. Jim Frishe, R-Belleaire Bluffs, who moved up from deputy whip to whip. Frishe, who represents parts of Pinellas County, is a veteran of the House, having served three terms in the 1980s before returning to Tallahassee in 2006.

The Democrats will have questions about their own future leadership team. When current House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West faces term limits in 2012, he will be replaced by one of two candidates: Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach and Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando will look to move up to Democratic leader pro tem, a position currently held by Gibbons.