Paula Dockery, Legislator of the Year

The Florida Association of Counties announced at its annual conference Wednesday afternoon that Sen. Paula Dockery is recipient of the organization's 2011 Legislator of the Year Award.

Senator Dockery has been there for our local communities for the past several years, said FAC President Ilene Lieberman, She has been committed to ensuring that it is local communities her constituents, not Tallahassee -- who are empowered to make decisions that are best for their communities.

For 80 years, the FAC has represented the diverse interests of Floridas counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule the concept that communities and their local leaders should make the decisions that impact their community.

The Lakeland Republican responded: I am extremely grateful to the Florida Association of Counties for their recognition of my longstanding commitment to local control. The closer government is to the people, the better it will be at serving their needs. Floridians do not need any more unfunded mandates and unnecessary regulation coming from Tallahassee.

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