According to his supporters, Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has the votes and will take over as president of the Florida Senate after the 2014 elections.
With 28 Republicans sitting in the Senate, Gardiner needed the backing of 15 of them to prevail over his opposition, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg. Supporters of Gardiner told Sunshine State News on Wednesday that their candidate was close to getting 20 signed pledges -- meaning the leadership contest is over.
Gardiner, first elected to the Senate in 2008 after four terms in the Florida House of Representatives, will take over after incoming Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who is set to lead the chamber after the 2012 elections. Current Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, will step down when Gaetz takes over.
Sunshine State News talked to Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who is one of Gardiners chief supporters in the Senate, on Wednesday afternoon. Negron said that the leadership contest was concluded and that Gardiner, who represents parts of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, was closing in on having 20 pledge cards signed by his fellow senators. A political consultant close to the process confirmed Gardiner's winning pledge-card count.
Negron praised Gardiner and insisted that he will be an inclusive leader during his time in charge of the Senate -- and will not punish senators who backed Latvala. Negron and Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, have been two of Gardiners strongest supporters in rounding up Republican votes for their man, and away from Latvala who is seen as more of a moderate than Gardiner.
Latvala, who represents parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, returned to the Senate -- in which he served two terms after the 1994 election cycle -- in 2010. During his first stint in the Senate, he served as the majority leader.
Sunshine State News reached out to Gardiner on Wednesday but he declined to comment on the story. Calls to Thrasher and Latvala were not returned.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
