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Confederate Statue Bill Passes First Senate Panel

One of three finalists will be chosen to replace Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith.
Architect of the Capitol

A move to replace the statue of a Confederate general in the U.S. Capitol’s statuary hall passed its first hurdle in the Florida Senate.  

Echoing House sponsor Rep. Jose Diaz (R-Miami), Sen. John Legg (R-Trinity)says the idea to replace Edmund Kirby Smith isn’t motivated by his tenure in the Confederacy.  Instead Legg says, it comes from the general’s limited connection to the state.

“The reality of it was he only lived in Florida till he was twelve years old, and left Florida at twelve years old never to return,” Legg says.

“His impact on Florida was not significant,” Legg goes on, “he just did not shape Florida’s history.”

Each state has two statues of notable citizens in the Capitol.  Florida’s submissions include Smith and physician John Gorrie, known as a pioneer of air conditioning.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.