Two members of Florida’s panhandle legislative delegation have been named to leadership positions in the state legislature. Senator Bill Montford of Tallahassee will serve as the Senate Democrats policy chair, and Republican Representative Marti Coley of Marianna will serve as the House’s Incoming speaker pro-tempore. Coley called her appointment,” humbling”.
“Seven years ago when I was sworn into office I had one goal: to complete my husband’s term. And I truly think that many people thought that I would sit in that seat and go home. But I worked very hard to uphold his high standards and I wanted to carry forward his legacy.”
Coley won a special election when in 2005 when her husband, the late Representative David Coley, died of cancer. Montford and Coley and the rest of the legislative leadership team will officially assume their positions when the legislature reconvenes in March.