Finishing our celebration of five years of covering Florida politics and business from a conservative perspective, Sunshine State News wants to mention the political figures who fell just short of our top 20 list of the states movers and shakers.
Not everybody on our list accomplished great things for Florida in five years -- though many did. Not everybody was necessarily a winner or a loser at the polls. Some made their mark boldly, but like falling stars they didn't stay around long. Others showed us why they could be future stars.
These are some of the honorable mentions in our list of political movers and shakers over the last five years.
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla. The North Florida Democrat continued to prove a force on Capitol Hill and in Tallahassee. No Democrat worked harder for the Republican redistricting plan and Brown was rewarded as the GOP kept her seat secure for her.
Former Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon. While the Central Florida Republicans attempts to reform the judicial branch were not completely successful, Cannon led the House during a time of retrenchment and cutbacks. Sticking to his conservative principles, Cannon avoided the temptation to raise taxes and managed to help guide the mandated balanced budget into a landing.
Former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. Rick Scotts running mate in 2010 looked poised to be a national star for Republicans. But a turbulent tenure as lieutenant governor ended with Scott demanding her resignation after Carrolls name surfaced in a racketeering probe. Carroll resurfaced on occasion, including taking some shots at her old boss, but her once rising star has clearly descended.
Florida Rep. Richard Corcoran. While his rise in the Florida House has been impressive and he will take over as speaker after the 2016 elections, it hasnt been all roses for Corcoran. The Pasco County Republican backed Bill Gunter in a special election for an open House seat in 2013. After a few skeletons from the past resurfaced, Gunter lost to Democrat Amanda Murphy. Despite the setback, Corcorans star continues to ascend in Tallahassee.
Former Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul. The Ocala Republican never expected to be speaker and rose to power after Ray Sansom resigned in disgrace. But Cretul was more than up to the job and led conservatives to victory in the House, embarrassing Gov. Charlie Crist after he called a special legislative session to ban offshore drilling after the Gulf oil spill.
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. Winning an open congressional seat in 2012, DeSantis has made his mark in Washington, D.C., as a staunch conservative. DeSantis background as an attorney and as a veteran have helped him considerably in Congress and hes already chairing the House National Security Subcommittee and is the No. 2 man on the House Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee. DeSantis looks like a rising star for Florida Republicans.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla. Moving with ease from Tallahassee to Congress, Deutch has been an impressive candidate for Democrats in South Florida. While he goes left on most issues, Deutch has been able to achieve some successes when he reaches across the aisle, something he is more than willing to do, especially when it comes to Middle East policy and securing Israel. While he might be a junior member in the minority party, Deutch is proving to be no backbencher.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. All memories of election fraud charges against Dyer have long since been forgotten. Dyer remains one of the most powerful political figures in Central Florida and his record has been boosted by record-high tourism to Orlando in recent years. If he wants to get back to Tallahassee, Dyer could be a statewide candidate for Democrats in the future.
Florida Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami. Moving from the House to the Senate, Flores continues to shine as a rising star for Republicans. Flores is becoming a favorite of Republicans outside of Florida as well. Certainly former Gov. Mitt Romneys, R-Mass., campaign team showcased Flores during the 2012 campaign.
Former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. The Panhandle Republican skillfully presided over a sometimes stormy Senate for two years and generally worked well with then-House Speaker Will Weatherford. Still in the Senate, Gaetz can now focus on his bread-and-butter issue: education.
Florida Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. Another legislator who moved from the House to the Senate over the last five years, Galvano has emerged as the go-to Republican in the upper chamber. Galvano won the praise of fellow Republicans by his handling of redistricting and, in a sometimes divided caucus, is emerging as one of the strongest leaders in the chamber.
Former Florida Sen. Dan Gelber. While he might have lost to Republican Pam Bondi in the 2010 gubernatorial race, Gelber remains prominent on the Democratic side. Gelber hitched his star to former Gov. Charlie Crists wagon, helping guide the former Republican toward the Democratic nomination. Gelber lost again with his gamble on Crist but he remains a major figure for Florida Democrats.
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla. After losing badly to Republican Dan Webster in 2010, Grayson bounced back to win an open congressional seat in 2012. Grayson remains a favorite of liberals and has a large grassroots following, even as he accused his estranged wife of bigamy and continued to anger Republicans with his over-the-top attacks. Despite it all, Grayson is still a major player who could run for the U.S. Senate in 2016.
Florida Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg. This wily Pinellas County Republican has proven to be one of the leading senators over the last five years, often frustrating conservative legislation while remaining one of the shrewdest politicians in Florida. Latvala is still running as an underdog to be the next Senate president, but whatever happens, he will continue to be one of the most powerful senators in Tallahassee.
Former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The architect of the Republican challenge to Obamacare, McCollum proved a wooden gubernatorial candidate who lost to Rick Scott in the primary. McCollum resurfaced as former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrichs, R-Ga., chief booster in Florida during the 2012 presidential race. After turning his back on Scott in the 2010 general election, McCollum came around four years later and threw his support behind the governor. McCollum might not have reached the heights he aspired to, but he was a major factor in Florida politics.
Florida Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart. Negron has been a leading player in the Florida Senate over the last five years, avoiding some of the pitfalls and problems that have plagued the Republican caucus. His focus in 2013 and 2014 on the severity of river pollution and Lake Okeechobee releases helped the Legislature understand the importance of moving to save Florida's threatened waterways. With a chance to be the next Senate president, Negron remains a major player in Tallahassee and has a chance to have a greater impact in the years to come.
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. The South Florida congresswoman remains a leading voice for Republicans on international issues. Chairing the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, Ros-Lehtinen also remains vigilant against the Castro regime in Cuba and was a sharp critic of Hugo Chavez and the current Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Peter Schorsch. As the mainstream media continue to lose influence and readers, nontraditional outlets have made gains at their expense. No media enterprise in Florida has gained as much steam over the last five years as Schorschs Saint PetersBlog. Often insightful, occasionally infuriating, almost always informative and entertaining, Schorsch -- in the literal sense, not a "politician" obvious for inclusion in this series but a most political non-politico nevertheless -- has made his site a must-read for political class Floridians. His hard work and ability to take advantage of opportunities to expand over the last five years have paid off significantly.
Florida State University President John Thrasher. The former Florida House speaker roared again over the last five years as a conservative leader in the Senate, as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) as the GOP made big gains in 2010 and helping Romneys presidential efforts. Thrashers now president of FSU but still remains one of the most powerful leaders in Tallahassee.
U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla. After an underwhelming bid for the U.S. Senate in 2004, Webster came back nicely by beating Grayson in 2010. Websters made waves in Washington, D.C., even challenging U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, earlier this year to lead the House. First elected to the Florida House in 1980, Webster continues to rank as one of the most important conservatives in the Sunshine State.
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla. Sure, she is known for her endless collection of colorful hats but Wilson has shown great political finesse over the last five years, moving from the Florida Senate to Congress. Wilson has garnered some notice in Washington, tying herself to Obama and extending her political career while still remaining one of the best politicians in Florida in attending to her district.
(ABOUT THIS SERIES: These are the honorable mentions in a special anniversary series of 20 political personalities who loomed large since early 2010, when Sunshine State News set up shop in Tallahassee.Who actually made the list? Click here to find out.)
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
