House Speaker Dean Cannon
“In evaluating this next round of assignments, I focused primarily on how individual members will best be able to serve the Florida House,” noted Cannon. “I considered each member’s legislative service, work ethic, policy expertise, process expertise, experience in policy or budget, standing among and relationship to their colleagues, attitude, and own self-reflection on their service in the Legislature. Whenever possible, I factored into that equation individual member preferences.”
Cannon emphasized that he is appointing chairmen and vice chairmen with experience in the House.
“I have limited chair and vice chair assignments to those members with whom I have personally served at least one legislative year, which I define as a full complement of committee weeks and a full legislative session,” noted Cannon.
In terms of the House leadership, Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, will be aided by Rep. Jim Frishe, R-Belleaire Bluffs, who moved up from deputy whip to whip. Frishe, who represents parts of Pinellas County, is a veteran of the House, having served three terms in the 1980s before returning to Tallahassee in 2006.
The Democrats named their own future leadership team. When current House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West faces term limits in 2012, he will be replaced by Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando will move up to Democratic leader pro tem, a position currently held by Gibbons.
With Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, already named to head up the full Appropriations Committee, Cannon announced other assignments to it and its various subcommittees. Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, was named as vice chairman of the full committee. Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, will head up the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee with Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, as vice chair. Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, will lead the Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee with Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, as the vice chair. The Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will be chaired by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, with Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, as the vice chair. Rep. Marlene O’Toole, R-The Villages, was selected to lead the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee with Rep. Eddy Gonzalez, R-Hialeah Gardens, as her vice chair. Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, will wield the gavel on the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee with Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, as his vice chair. The PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will be led by Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, with Rep. Erik Fressen, R-Miami, as the vice chair. The Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will be chaired by Rep, Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, with conservative Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, serving as vice chair.
Serving under Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, on the Economic Affairs Committee will be Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, who was named vice chair. Rep. Esteban Bovo, R-Hialeah, will lead the Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee with Roberson in as vice chair. Workman was named to lead the Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee and will have the services of Hooper as vice chairman. Holder will chair the Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee with Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, as vice chair. Rep. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka, was named to lead the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee with Rep. John Wood, R-Haines City, as vice chair. Rep. Brad Drake, R-DeFuniak Springs, will head up the Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee with Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, as vice chair. While Baxley is starting a new stint in the House, he served in it before from 2000 until 2007.
The full Education Committee will be led by Rep. William Proctor, R-St. Augustine, with O’Toole as his vice chair. Fresen will lead the K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee with Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, as vice chair. Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, will chair the K-20 Innovation Subcommittee and Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne, will be vice chair.
The Finance and Tax Committee will be led by Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Winter Garden, with Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, as the vice chair.
The Health and Human Services Committee will be chaired by Rep. Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill, with Gonzalez as the vice chair. The Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee will be led by Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, a veteran of the House returning to Tallahassee, and Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Orange Park, will serve as vice chair. The Health and Human Services Quality Subcommittee will be chaired by Wood with Rep. Doc Renuart, R-Jacksonville, as the vice chair.
Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, will serve as chairman of the Judiciary Committee with McBurney penciled in as the vice chair. Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, will head up the Civil Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Clay Ford, R-Pensacola, will be the vice chair. Baxley will chair the Criminal Justice Subcommittee with conservative Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Palatka, as the vice chair.
Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, will lead the Rules and Calendar Committee with Eisnaugle serving as vice chair. The Rulemaking and Regulation Subcommittee will be led by Dorworth with Ray as vice chair.
The full State Affairs Committee will be led by Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, with Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, as vice chair. Crisafulli will lead the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee with Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa, as vice chair. Ford will wield the gavel for the Energy and Utilities Subcommittee with Tobia serving as vice chair. Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, will lead the Federal Affairs Subcommittee with Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs, as the vice chair. Patronis will head up the Government Operations Subcommittee with Mayfield as his vice chair.
Cannon promised that most of the committee assignments will be issued later in the month; however, he will not name members of the redistricting committee until 2011 due to software issues and the need to study two new constitutional amendments approved in November.
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