It's March 2010.
Dawn is breaking on a whole new Florida legislative session. The fate of the nation's 4th most populous state rests in the hands of a powerful few.
Who are these titans roaming our corridors of power? Who possesses the swagger to lead a great state through a chaotic election year, out of the woods of a bad economy and into a better future?
Time will tell. But if real leadership is on the way, it's likely to begin with the ranks of these, Florida's most influential legislators as the 2010 session begins:
In the upper chamber
1. Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne - Incoming 2011 Senate president, Haridopolos serves as chairman of the Policy and Steering Committee on Energy, Environment and Land Use and as chairman of Reapportionment. He also was co-sponsor of January's Florida Jobs Summit in Orlando, an event that generated a slew of ideas for the jobs legislation coming this session. Don't be fooled by his youth and energy. He is far and away the Senate's No. 1. Haridopolos will lay low. He'll do his best work behind the scenes, shoring up votes for important legislation. His will be the busiest office in the Senate Building as a sea of senators awash in their own priorities try to position themselves for success by currying his favor.
2. Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach - Current Senate president, intelligent, thoughtful, the man leading the mightiest charge during the first week of the session. But he's in the Land of Oz. As the session wears on, he becomes the wizard you'll see, but it will be Haridopolos behind the curtain pulling the strings. Look for Atwater's attention to turn fairly quickly to his campaign for state chief financial officer.
3. Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales - In a fat year, the chairman of the Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, as Alexander is, might wield more power than the incoming Senate president. After all, Ways and Means is where the money is. But not this year. With the state's pockets picked clean by the recession, Alexander remains a formidable figure, but his position lacks the relevance it had even two years ago.
4. Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville - Thrasher pulled off a coup at the Republican Party of Florida Convention two weeks ago, stealing the party chairmanship from once-sure-winner Sharon Day. He easily found the edge when he raised more than $1 million for depleted GOP coffers. After the convention Thrasher made one of his first orders of business resigning his post as chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. Never mind. It's an election year and he's still a Big Man on Campus. The closer we get to the fall madness,the larger his entourage will grow.
5. Sen. Alfred "Al" Lawson, Jr., D-Tallahassee - As minority leader, the vice-chairman of the Committee on General Government Appropriations rallies the Senate's 14 Democratic members and works hard to encourage bipartisanship. Distraction alert: Lawson will have to pay attention to an upcoming primary campaign against incumbent Congressman Alan Boyd.
6. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin - Chairman of the Select Committee on Florida's economy, Gaetz is the lead sponsor of the Jobs for Florida legislative package, expected to play a central role in this session.
In the lower chamber
1. Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park - Incoming 2011 speaker of the House of Representatives, Cannon was a co-sponsor of January's Florida Jobs Summit in Orlando and is also chairman of the Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning. Like his counterpart in the Senate, Cannon is far and away his chamber's powerhouse. He'll fly under the radar, pulling together votes on key issues in stealth mode. His strength and his following will only grow as the session progresses.
2. Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala - Speaker of the House, but like Atwater, his reign is mainly on the wane. He'll come out of the gate strong, he'll make speeches and he'll have control of the House for a while. But over the next couple of months, watch for the waiting room in his office to thin out like a candy store after Valentine's Day.
3. Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami - Chairman of both the Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development and the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care, Rivera should be flexing his muscles. Not this year. With revenues in the cellar and former speaker Ray Sansom facing criminal charges over a shady budget deal,he shouldn't expect a stampede to his office. Rivera also will be running for a vacant U.S. Congress seat and facing a tough primary fight for the Republican nod.
4. Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West and Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Plantation - Saunders and Sands are co-No. 4s. But, in truth, Saunders, the incoming 2011 Democratic House leader and veteran state representative who sits on the budget committee is in the stronger position. Saunders' job is to perform a balancing act of reaching across the aisle while leading a feisty minority. Meanwhile, Sands is the minority leader in name, but the candle is flickering on his influence.
5. Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel - Currently serving as House Education Policy chair, Weatherford's star is on the rise. He's gearing up to become speaker of the House in 2012. Weatherford is introducing the Jobs for Florida package in the House. Expect to hear his name with increasing frequency.
Freelancer Brad Kane contributed to this story.
