With the Florida primary only a month away, House Speaker Dean Cannon says his focus right now is on his final regular legislative session rather than making endorsements.
Nor is he thinking about his own long-term plans once his term expires next year.
Cannon, R-Winter Park, was among the Florida contingent that quickly jumped behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican presidential primary.
Perry skyrocketed in the polls upon entering the race in August, but due to a series of debate gaffes, fell almost as quickly.
Two months earlier, Cannon publicly backed Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, for U.S. Senate.
Haridopolos withdrew from the race two months later, saying he'd overestimated the demands of simultaneously running the state Senate and a statewide campaign.
Right now, Im singularly focused on preparing for the session and I think Im done with the endorsement business, Cannon said in an interview.
As for his own plans, Cannon, an attorney first elected to the House in 2004, said he has no immediate plans to run again for office.
This year, Im looking forward to being done with public life, taking several years -- maybe the rest of my life -- off from the public sphere and enjoying being a public citizen again, Cannon said.
The model our founders envisioned when they crafted our form of representative democracy is citizens would have lives and careers and then temporarily take time away from them and get into politics, and when they have served their public and paid their rent, go back to the public sector, Cannon added. I intend to follow that model. There is certainly nothing wrong with staying in public service for your whole career, but as for me and my family were ready to be done.
Born theson of a U.S. Air Force serviceman at the former Bitburg Air Base in Germany, once home to the United States Air Force 36th Fighter Wing, Cannon, who has three children 10 years of age and younger, cannot seek re-election due to term limits.
They put up with a lot, Cannon said of his family. My dad was in the Air Force, I know I did not like him being gone so much.
But never say never.
Cannon has been telling anyone who wants to enter a long-term conversation about his future to wait until after the session.
Ive always figured the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for the next phase of your life is to be really focused in the phase youre in now, Cannon said. So Ill wait until after (adjournment)sine die and then well talk about it and figure something out.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 215-9889.
