On Tuesday, the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) and the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (FPMA) announced their “legislators of the year” award winners.
President Pro Tempore Garret Richter, R-Naples, was honored in the Florida Senate while Majority Whip Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, was selected in the state House. The FRF and FPMA awarded the legislators at their annual fall meeting in Naples, Richter’s home base.
“Sen. Richter and Rep. Boyd have been true friends of retailers and outstanding members of the Florida Legislature for years,” said Rick McAllister, the president and CEO of the FRF, on Tuesday. “We are proud to recognize and thank them for their efforts to safeguard and support retailers statewide.
“Retailers make up more than 270,000 of Florida’s businesses and employ more than 2.7 million people, and Sen. Richter’s and Rep. Boyd’s efforts strengthen our state and make a big impact on the success of Florida’s families,” McAllister added.
The FRF praised Richter for his work on tort reform and his role in the debate over bad debt sales tax refunds.After his service in Vietnam as an Army ranger and his career in banking Richter was elected to the Florida House in 2006 and moved over to the Senate two years later. He currently represents parts of Collier and Lee counties.
The vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Boyd was applauded for his work pushing back against increased regulations on retailers and the record he has assembled in the House during his time in Tallahassee. First elected to the Florida House in 2010 after serving as mayor of Palmetto, Boyd represents parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
