New Florida senate president relies on old hands to lead committees


  • December 4, 2014
  • /   Brandon Larrabee
  • /   government
New Senate President Andy Gardiner looked to experience as he named committee chairmen who will oversee legislation and state spending during the next two years. Of the 24 existing committees and subcommittees that will continue into the legislative session that begins in March, 13 will be led by the chairmen who oversaw those panels in 2014, according to assignments released Wednesday by Gardiner, R-Orlando. Many of the changes result from shifts in leadership in the Senate, which will return all but one of its members from the last term. "We have many senators who have a great deal of institutional knowledge that has been a great benefit to the Senate," Gardiner wrote in a memo to lawmakers. "For this reason, some senators are assigned to familiar policy or budget areas. Other senators are being called upon to utilize their talents in new areas for the best interest of the Senate." LOCAL SENATORS Criminal Justice Chairman: Greg Evers, R-Baker Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who served the past two years as president, will take over the gavel. SENATORS WHO WILL KEEP THEIR POSTS  Agriculture Chairman: Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee General Government Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman: Alan Hays, R-Umatilla Children, Families and Elder Affairs Chairwoman: Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood Commerce and Tourism Chairwoman: Nancy Detert, R-Venice Community Affairs Chairman: Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby Finance and Tax Chairwoman: Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange Government Oversight and Accountability Chairman: Jeremy Ring, D-Margate Health Policy Chairman: Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Chairman: Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, Transportation Chairman: Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. PreK-12 Education Chairman: John Legg, R-Lutz Legg's role will be slightly different after he chaired a committee last year that considered all education bills. The Senate will now go back to having a committee that focuses on PreK-12 education, headed by Legg, and a reconstituted Higher Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. The broadest changes to committee leadership will happen in the budget process. Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican locked in a battle for the Senate presidency beginning in 2016, will go from chairman of the full Senate Appropriations Committee to overseeing a subcommittee dealing with civil and criminal justice spending. Negron will replace Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. The full Appropriations Committee will be chaired by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, something that Gardiner had already announced. Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who is Negron's rival for the future presidency, will chair the appropriations subcommittee dealing with transportation and education development. Gardiner had chaired that panel last year. Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, will take over the chairmanship of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee from Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring. Grimsley will instead chair the Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee --- taking over from Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, who will chair the new Fiscal Policy Committee. Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, will chair the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, following Latvala's departure from the post. Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, will replace Lee as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, while Bradley will take over the Senate Regulated Industries Committee from Stargel. As announced by Gardiner last month, Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, will chair the Senate Rules Committee. Former Sen. John Thrasher, who had chaired that committee in the last Senate term, left the chamber to become president of his alma mater, Florida State University.
Your items have been added to the shopping cart. The shopping cart modal has opened and here you can review items in your cart before going to checkout