House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, has appointed Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Hialeah, to serve as his point man for congressional redistricting when the Legislature convenes in special session Aug. 10-21.
Crisafulli announced Monday that Oliva, who is scheduled to become House speaker after the 2018 elections, will lead the House Redistricting Committee.
Said Crisafulli, “I look forward to working with our Senate partners to comply with the recent Supreme Court ruling. I have appointed Rep. Jose Oliva to chair the House Committee on Redistricting and I believe that he will thoughtfully lead the House’s efforts in this matter.”
“I would like to thank Speaker Crisafulli for the honor of chairing this important committee,” Oliva said. “I understand the important nature of the work of the Redistricting Committee and I look forward to working with my colleagues to produce a map that addresses the concerns outlined by the Supreme Court.”
On Monday afternoon, Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, announced the special session will start in Tallahassee on Monday, Aug. 10, and conclude Friday, Aug. 21. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that eight of the current congressional districts fail to pass constitutional muster after voters amended the state Constitution in 2010 to limit gerrymandering.
Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, will serve as Oliva’s vice chairman. Other Republicans on the committee include Reps. Travis Cummings of Orange Park, Larry Metz of Groveland, Marlene O’Toole of The Villages, David Santiago of Deltona, Jennifer Sullivan of Eustis, Carlos Trujillo of Doral and Dana Young of Tampa.
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, will be on the committee. So will Democratic Reps. Reggie Fullwood of Jacksonville, Jared Moskowitz of Coral Springs and Irv Slosberg of Delray Beach.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN.
