Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers
Date of Birth: October 8, 1960
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Residence: Fort Myers
Education:Shepard Broad Law Center, Juris Doctor
Occupation: Attorney.
Previous Public Office: None.
Family: Husband, two children
Did you know?Sings karaoke.
Freshman Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, is a newbie to the political scene, a community volunteer who might never have run for public office but for the kind prodding of a sitting legislator.
I was given the idea by our senator, Lizbeth Benacquisto; I was very flattered that she thought I would be capable of representing our district, Fitzenhagen, who now represents Fort Myers and most of the southeastern part of Lee County, tells Sunshine State News. I thought about it for a while; I was being successful doing some things on the ground here as a volunteer and serving on various boards and so forth, and I finally decided to take my skill set and try to make a bigger difference for my community by serving in Tallahassee.
Asked what her proudest community service accomplishments are, the 52-year old attorney and arbitrator describes her role in founding the Betty Allen Ovarian Cancer Foundation (making sure that women are aware of the silent killer that ovarian cancer is) and her work on the board of the Lee County PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education) Center for Girls: early intervention in the lives of young people, so they can get on track, stay on track, and be good citizens and not be disenfranchised.
Asked what her legislative priorities will be as the 2013 session gears up, her response echoes that of most of her colleagues: education and jobs.
My greatest passion, not only for my Southwest Florida district but for all of Florida, is for us to be known as the best state to do business in and the best state to live in, she says. And one of the key components of economic development has to be a very strong educational system so that business and employers will want to grow and expand here because they know they have a pool of potential workers that have the skill set they are looking for.
Those passions jibe well with her placement on the subcommittees on Higher Education and Workforce, and Education Appropriations. She also sits on the important Judiciary Committee and the subcommittees on Healthy Families and Transportation and Highway Safety.
The bills shes filed so far are not likely to arouse much controversy or news coverage, but she says theyre important to fill certain gaps in current state statutes. Her HB 175 (Condominiums), for example, clarifies when condominiums come into legal existence.
You need to know the date that occurs, because everything that has to do with the rules and regulations that affect the development and the turnover of the condo to the homeowners association has to start from that point, she explains. Her bill provides that two actions trigger a condos coming into existence: the date of inspection or the filing of the first deed of sale.
A second measure, yet to be filed, will require that doctors who provide medical treatment disclose, at the moment their services are delivered, whether they are a physician or a doctor of some other kind. (A physician is a doctor with an M.D. or a D.O.)
I want to be very clear when Im getting services delivered if my doctor is a physician or not, she explains. You want to make sure you know who you're getting your services from, but most people would not think you needed to ask that sort of question.
Another bill Fitzenhagen is still drafting would reduce corporate filing fees for businesses. She declined to provide details, but said it was something that Im looking to do to demonstrate that I am serious about making Florida a better business environment.
And just what does Fort Myers new representative do to relax and unwind when she isnt politicking or litigating?
I enjoy karaoke, she admits to the News. Am I any good at it? I suppose thats in the eye of the beholder, or rather the listener.
She won't dismiss a suggestion that the formation a House Karaoke Caucus might be in the works.
Im just not ready to rule that out, she insists. I never say never.
Reach Eric Giunta at egiunta@sunshinestatenews.com or at (954) 235-9116.
