Florida House Republican’s have chosen Central Florida Representative Steve Crisafulli as the House speaker for 2014. He replaces Representative Chris Dorworth who lost his re-election bid. Lynn Hatter reports Crisafulli was selected in a unanimous vote by his Republican colleagues, and the appointment is earning nods from some Democrats as well.
Democratic Representative Dwayne Taylor’s district sits next to Representative Crisafulli’s, and the two lawmakers were both elected to their posts back in 2008. Taylor says he made it a point to get to know his fellow class members, including Crisafulli:
“He worked in the fields for his family. And I remember him telling me one day of how he’d go out in the fields, picking oranges and fruit, and then went to football practice.”
Taylor says he feels Republicans made a good choice in naming Crisafulli as the state’s future house speaker. And Crisafulli, in a statement, says he’s humbled to be chosen.
"I was absolutely humbled to receive the support of my colleagues to be chosen as the new Speaker-Designate. Here in Florida, we face many challenges, from jobs to education to healthcare to the budget, and I think I offer a consensus building approach that my colleagues in the House were looking for."
Now, only one more House leadership position remains vacant, and that’s majority leader. Chris Dorworth was also expected to fill that post. Now it’s up to Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford to name a new majority leader.
