After former state lawmaker Joel Rudman bashed the Florida House leadership at the governor’s presser, he did an online appearance before the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee. It didn’t go well.
Florida Politics reports the Committee unanimously voted down appointing him to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees.
The Navarre Republican faced trouble from the committee based on comments he made on a recent X Spaces chat. Senators said the apparent threats to expose or embarrass lawmakers if he wasn’t confirmed would not be tolerated.
“There’s no way you can read those comments and, with a straight face, tell people that they weren’t intended to intimidate and influence the Senators on this panel, and that is something I cannot abide.” said Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach)
Even DeSantis supporter, Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) couldn’t endorse Rudman: “I don’t believe that I’m in a position to be able to vote to confirm going forward. And it does pain me to do that, because I know Doc as well and enjoyed a good relationship with him, but I just think those comments really do paint us in a certain corner where we’re left with only this result.”
I’m sure this tirade to didn’t help Rudman’s chances: