A day after naming Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, as president pro tempore and Sen. Andy Gardner, R-Orlando, as majority leader, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, named three more members of his leadership team.
Haridopolos is keeping Sen. J. D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, in charge of state finances, naming him chair of the Budget Committee. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, will handle redistricting while Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, will lead the Rules Committee.
A member of the Senate since being elected in 2002, Alexander led efforts in the Senate to craft the budget. Alexander, who represents all of Hardee and Highland counties and parts of DeSoto, Glades, Okeechobee, Polk and St. Lucie counties, had a stint as majority whip and led the Ways & Means Committee.
Senator Alexander has a passion for holding government accountable, insisted Haridopolos. There is no better fiscal watchdog in the Senate and with declining tax revenues, hell ensure Floridians money is spent in the wisest way possible.
With redistricting looming in 2012 at both the congressional and legislative levels, it falls to Gaetz, who has represented parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties in the Senate since 2006, to handle the changes mandated by Florida voters who approved two amendments to the state Constitution last week, changing the process.
With the passage of Amendments 5 and 6, Senator Gaetz will have the responsibility of leading our efforts in redrawing legislative and congressional districts, said Haridopolos. This may be the most challenging committee chairmanship of all, but Senator Gaetz leadership will help us navigate this once-a-decade process.
Gaetz was a sharp critic of the amendments and forwarded a study from the James Madison Institute to supporters back in October which recommended Floridians reject both measures.
The reapportionment process over the next two years will be a difficult process and involve a great deal of legal wrangling, said Gaetz. I appreciate President Haridopolos confidence in me to work through this process.
It is my hope that we will be able to get these new district lines drawn without having the court intervene due to the passage of Amendments 5 and 6, added Gaetz. I am looking forward to traveling around the state and hearing the public testimony on this important process.
Haridopolos turned to Thrasher, the current chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, to lead the Rules Committee. A former speaker of the House, Thrasher was elected in a special election 2009 to represent parts of Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia counties and routed Democratic candidate Deborah Gianoulis last week to win a full term.
Having led the House of Representatives, Senator Thrasher is uniquely qualified to be Rules Committee chair, said Haridopolos. He has my utmost trust and Im proud to have Senator Thrasher on my leadership team.
Haridopolos said on Election Night after hearing that Thrasher had defeated Gianoulis that he would be part of the Senate leadership.
With Republicans controlling 28 of the 40 Senate seats, Haridopolos and his team should have little difficultly in controlling the upper house of the Legislature.
Trying to stand in the way will be Sen. Nan Rich of Weston, the incoming Senate Democratic leader. Rich announced the first selection of her team on Wednesday, after Haridopolos named his new picks. Rich named Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, as Democratic leader pro tempore.
First elected in 2006 to represent parts of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties, Joyner had an easy task last week -- cruising to another term with no opposition for re-election. Joyner served three terms in the House, as whip, policy chair and floor leader for the Democrats, before heading to the Senate. She has continued to serve as whip in the Senate.
Sen. Joyner is recognized as a spirited advocate for human rights and criminal justice reform, as well as a savvy businesswoman attuned to the needs of the communities she serves, said Rich. As a leader in the caucus, she will continue that same passionate dedication to our states residents, ensuring that the campaign promises to get Florida back to work are the promises kept.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
