Showing his commitment to a bipartisan, inclusive Florida Senate, President Mike Haridopolos today appointed ten Democrats to serve as Vice Chairs of the Senate’s 27 committees and subcommittees. Six Democrats will serve as vice chairs on multiple committees. In addition, two Democrats were previously announced as chairs of Senate committees.
“Every member of the Senate represents Florida and it’s only fair that every senator have a committee leadership position,†said President Haridopolos. “Based on their individual requests, 77% of Senators received their first, second or third choice as a committee chair or vice chair. Ten of eleven Democrats are either chairing a committee or are the vice chair of the committee they said was their number one choice. I want to extend my most sincere gratitude to Minority Leader Nan Rich for her hard work, assistance and suggestions during the process as we selected the members who would head these committees.â€
President Haridopolos appointed the following Senators as vice chairs:
Group I
Agriculture
* Larcenia Bullard, Vice Chair
Communications, Energy and Public Utilities
* Christopher Smith, Vice Chair
Community Affairs
* Jim Norman, Vice Chair
Environmental Preservation and Conservation
* Steve Oelrich, Vice Chair
Group II
Banking and Insurance
* Christopher Smith, Vice Chair
Commerce and Tourism
* Paula Dockery, Vice Chair
Regulated Industries
* Maria Sachs, Vice Chair
Transportation
* Greg Evers, Vice Chair
Group III
Children, Family and Elder Affairs
* Tony Hill, Vice Chair
Criminal Justice
* Charlie Dean, Vice Chair
Education and Pre K-12
* Larcenia Bullard, Vice Chair
Health Regulations
* Eleanor Sobel, Vice Chair
Higher Education
* Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
Judiciary
* Arthenia Joyner, Vice Chair
Group IV
Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections
* Nancy Detert, Vice Chair
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
* Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
Military Affairs, Space and Domestic Security
* Tony Hill, Vice Chair
Reapportionment
* Gwen Margolis, Vice Chair
Group V
Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
* Arthenia Joyner, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
* Thad Altman, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations
* Lizbeth Benacquisto, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Appropriation
* Nan Rich, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations
* John Thrasher, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on Education and Pre K-12 Appropriations
* Bill Montford, Vice Chair
Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations
* Gwen Margolis, Vice Chair
Group VI
Rules Committee and Calendar Group
* J.D. Alexander, Vice Chair
Budget Committee
* Joe Negron, Vice Chair
The only Senator not appointed as chair or vice chair is Frederica Wilson, who was recently elected to Congress. She is expected to resign from the Senate in December.