House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Haven, named 50 representatives to the Redistricting Committee and its three subcommittees late Monday as the Legislature gets to work drawing up new district lines, including those of two new congressional seats.
Incoming Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, will chair the Redistricting Committee with Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, serving as vice chairman. The other Republicans on the committee are Rep. Janet Adkins of Fernandina Beach, Rep. Chris Dorworth of Heathrow, Rep. Eric Eisnaugle of Orlando, Rep. Erik Fresen of Miami, Rep. Jim Frishe of Belleair Bluffs, Rep. Doug Holder of Sarasota, Rep. Mike Horner of Kissimmee, Rep. Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange, Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg of Port Richey, Rep. Peter Nehr of Tarpon Springs, Rep. Rob Schenck of Spring Hill and Rep. Ritch Workman of Melbourne. Democrats on the committee are Rep. Mack Bernard of West Palm Beach, Rep. Charles Chestnut of Gainesville, Rep. Evan Jenne of Fort Lauderdale, Rep. Mia Jones of Jacksonville, Rep. Marty Kiar of Parkland, Rep. Hazel Rogers of Lauderhill and Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg. Frishe, Hukill, Kiar and Legg have filed to run for the Senate in 2012.
Schenck and Dorworth will co-chair the House Redistricting Subcommittee with Frishe serving as vice chairman. The other Republicans on the subcommittee include Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Rep. Richard Corcoran of New Port Richey, Rep. Jose Felix Diaz of Miami, Rep. Brad Drake of DeFuniak Springs, Rep. Ed Hooper of Clearwater, Rep. Jeannette Nuz of Miami and Rep. Dana Young of Tampa. Democrats on the subcommittee are Bernard, Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami Shores, Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed of Pompano Beach, Rep. John Patrick Julien of North Miami Beach, and Rogers.
Hukill, who has filed to run for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Evelyn Lynn of Daytona Beach, will join Nehr as co-chairs of the Senate Redistricting Subcommittee. Workman will serve as vice chair. Republicans on the committee include Rep. Jim Boyd of Bradenton, Rep. Matt Caldwell of Fort Myers, Rep. Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island, Rep. Clay Ford of Pensacola, Rep. Ana Rivas Logan of Miami, Rep. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland and Rep. Trudi Williams of Fort Myers. Democrats on the committee include Rep. Janet Cruz of Tampa, Jenne, Kiar, Rouson, and Rep. Alan Williams of Tallahassee. Hukill is not the only Senate candidate on the committee who will be helping draw up the districts for that body. Kiar has filed to run for the seat currently held by Democratic Senate Leader Nan Rich of Sunrise. With Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, facing term limits, Stargel has filed to run for the seat she currently holds. Williams has filed against incumbent freshman Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Wellington.
Legg and Holder will lead the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee with Horner as the vice chairman. Republicans on the committee include Rep. Ben Albritton of Bartow, Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford, Rep. Rachel Burgin of Riverview, Rep. Tom Goodson of Titusville, Rep. Kathleen Passidomo of Naples, Rep. Scott Plakon of Longwood and Rep. Carlos Trujillo of Miami. Democrats on the committee include Rep. Joseph Abruzzo of Wellington, Chestnut, Rep. Reggie Fullwood of Jacksonville, Rep. Betty Reed of Tampa, and Rep. Dwayne Taylor of Daytona Beach. Abruzzo has garnered some buzz as a possible candidate to enter the crowded Democratic primary to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West. The subcommittee will help draw up the two new congressional seats awarded to Florida after the last federal census.
The Redistricting Committee and the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee are scheduled to meet Wednesday morning. The House and Senate Redistricting Subcommittees will meet for the first time on Thursday morning.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859.
