State Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, has been named by House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
The announcement was one of the first from Weatherford, in place to be speaker without the designate tag in November.
Seths expertise and background as a small-business owner, a former Lakeland City commissioner and the previous chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, will prove to be invaluable as we manage our states future budget priorities, Weatherford wrote to members of the House on Tuesday.
Representative McKeel has demonstrated a commitment to putting the priorities of our state over his own interests and will serve the House well as we develop an appropriations plan in the coming months.
We have a great task before us. The constitutional responsibility to pass a balanced budget and the public duty to fund the basic needs of our state will take every ounce of thoughtful, principled, and serious effort. Seth McKeel will be a great leader by example for the next two years.
McKeel, who was the deputy majority leader in 2009-2010 and notes on his Twitter page that he is the husband of a real estate rock star, replaces Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, who is running for state Senate.
McKeel, a Lakeland city commissioner from 2000 to 2005, was first elected to the House in 2006.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
