About the Front Cover: An untitled work by Willie Daniels. Used with permission from the Geoff and Patti Cook collection of Highwaymen paintings. Highwaymen is the name given to a group of African American artists who sold paintings, often from the trunks of their cars, on Florida’s highways during the 1950s and 1960s. These artists painted images associated with Florida such as subtropical wilderness areas, water- scapes, backcountry marshes, and the Royal Poinciana Tree. Images of Highwaymen paintings used in this handbook are used with permission from the Geoff and Patti Cook collection. Included also in this handbook is a photographic tour of the Senate, showing the Senate at work. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Tom Lee President of the Senate elcome to the Florida Senate -- remains a strong sense of respect Wan institution with a long and collegiality for one another. and distinguished reputation as the hall of deliberation and inde- I am honored to lead this dedicat- pendence. ed group of Senators for the next two years as we tackle important Our chamber is rich in history. issues such as growth manage- Surrounding the Senators' desks ment, higher quality education, are portraits of men and women health care reform, and responsi- who served as President of the ble budgeting practices. Senate since Florida statehood in 1845. We debate important state It is my hope that you will become issues under their watchful eyes. involved in the legislative process by contacting your Senator with In this Senate you are represented suggestions and ideas. Your par- by fellow citizens: forty different ticipation is vital to the success of men and women from every walk our representative government. of life - teachers, lawyers, business owners, fathers and mothers; Thank you for giving us the oppor- Democrats and Republicans - who tunity to serve, have dedicated themselves to serv- ing Florida. Though the back- grounds and experiences are var- ied, Senators meet on this floor as equals. While our debate may at Tom Lee times become passionate, there President of the Florida Senate 1 THE FLORIDA SENATE Senators are occupied in a busi- served in local governments. The ness or profession when they are Senate is presided over by a not carrying out their legislative President elected by the members duties. of the Senate. Also elected is the hen the first Senate was convened on January 7, President Pro Tempore. The 1839 — six years before Florida became a The 2004-2006 Senate member- W President for the 2004-2006 term state — no business could be transacted because only ship includes 31 men and 9 is Senator Tom Lee from Brandon. seven of the sixteen Senators were present. There was women. There are 26 Republicans The President Pro Tempore is no quorum of Senators for three of the first four days, and 14 Democrats whose profes- Senator Charlie Clary from Destin. and it was not until the fifth day of the first session that sions or occupations include law, Territorial Governor Richard Keith Call addressed the medicine, banking, business, agri- Additional information on these Senate and the House of Representatives in joint ses- culture, and industry. The average officers and the other members sion. Senator is about 51 years old, is of the Senate is contained on married, and has children. Thirty- the following pages of this Since the beginning days, the Senate has evolved into a one of the Senators have college handbook. The handbook also highly organized, smoothly functioning legislative body degrees and 15 have held other further outlines and describes that meets annually to conduct the people’s business. public offices before they were the Senate, its operations, The year-round staff conducts vital research and pre- elected to the Senate. Thirty-four and its relationship to the pares for the legislative sessions. Senators served in the House of House of Representatives and “Once a Senator, always a Senator” is a catchy phrase of Representatives prior to their elec- the other two branches of good fellowship that conveys something of the philoso- tion to the Senate. Others have Florida government. phy of the Senate. The Florida Senate today has 40 members, each elected from a single-member district and each representing approximately 400,000 Florida citizens. Each Senator is elected for a four-year staggered term. He or she may be elected for more than one term, but may not seek reelection if he or she has served for eight consecutive years (see Article VI, Section 4, State Constitution). The Constitution of the State of Florida specifies that Senators must be at least 21 years of age, must be registered vot- ers, must be residents of the district from which they are elected, and must have resided in Florida for two years prior to their election. While members of the other branches of government work full time in public service, the Legislature maintains its identity as the “citizen” branch. Almost all of the 2 3 PRESIDENT OF PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE THE FLORIDA SENATE Tom Lee Charlie Clary Republican, District 10 Republican, District 4 The Senate President is a Vice President, Sabal Homes of Florida, Architect born June 24, 1950 in The role of the President Pro constitutional officer who Inc. born January 21, 1962 in San Crestview education Auburn University: Tempore is defined by the leads the Florida Senate for Antonio, Texas. Moved to Florida in 1969 B.A., Architecture, Environmental President and the Senate a two-year term. The education Hillsborough Community Design, 1977 wife Beth Graham of Ft. Rules. Additionally, he or Walton Beach children Joanna, Laura President, who is elected by College, A.A., 1982; University of Tampa, she may preside over ses- legislative service elected to the Senate in members of the Senate, B.S., Business, 1984 children Regan, sions during the absence of Brandon legislative service elected to the 1996, reelected subsequently; Majority manages the operations of the President. Senate in 1996, reelected subsequently Whip, 2001-2002 military service U.S. the Senate and presides religious affiliation Catholic recreation Navy: Submarine service, 4 years active over its sessions. The golf, travel addresses (district) P.O. Box and 2 years inactive religious affiliation President’s many duties 2743, Brandon 33509; 915 Oakfield Baptist recreation fishing, pen and ink include: selecting a Majority Drive, Suite E, Brandon 33511 sketching, photography addresses (dis- Leader, appointing Senators (Tallahassee) 312 Senate Office Building trict) 1241 Airport Road, Suite A, Destin to standing Senate commit- 404 South Monroe Street, 32399-1100; 32541; FSU-Panama City Campus, 4750 tees, appointing committee 409, The Capitol 404 South Monroe Collegiate Drive, Panama City 32405 chairs, and appointing citi- Street, 32399-1100 telephones (district) (Tallahassee) 404 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street, 32399-1100 zens to a variety of boards 813/744-8683 (Tallahassee) 850/487- 5072, 850/487-5229. telephones (district) 850/833-9159 and commissions. (Tallahassee) 850/487-5009. 4 5 MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA SENATE JD Alexander Dave Aronberg Republican, District 17 Democrat, District 27 Majority (Republican) Whip Attorney born May 4, 1971 in Miami education Harvard University: B.A., 1993; J.D., 1996 leg- Citrus grower born July 16, 1959 in Camp islative service elected to the Senate in 2002, Lejeune, North Carolina. Moved to Florida in reelected subsequently religious affiliation 1961 education University of Florida, B.S., Jewish recreation golf, exercise, guitar, driving Agriculture, 1981 wife Cindy Monroe of back and forth on State Road 80 addresses (dis- Augusta, Georgia children Britton, Keaton leg- trict) 3900 Woodlake Boulevard, Suite 301, islative service elected to the Senate in 2002, Greenacres 33463; 2120 Main Street, Suite 206, reelected subsequently; House of Fort Myers 33901 (Tallahassee) 220 Senate Representatives, 1998-2002 historical Ben Hill Office Building 404 South Monroe Street, Griffin, Jr., grandfather, Florida House of 32399-1100 telephones (district) 561/433-2627 Representatives 1956-1963, Senate 1965-1968 or 239/338-2646 (Tallahassee) 850/487-5356. religious affiliation Presbyterian addresses (dis- trict) 122 East Tillman Ave., Suite 1, Lake Wales 33853 (Tallahassee) 405 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street, 32399-1100 tele- phones (district) 863/679-4411 or 800/444- 9747 (Tallahassee) 850/487-5044. Nancy Argenziano Jeffrey H. (Jeff) Atwater Republican, District 3 Republican, District 25 State Senator born January 1, 1955 in Brooklyn, Banking born April 8, 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri. New York. Moved to Florida in 1971 education Moved to Florida in 1962 education University Broward Community College, pre-veterinary of Florida, Finance, 1981; M.B.A., 2002 wife medicine; Gold Coast Real Estate School, Florida Carole Funkhouser of Topeka, Kansas children Real Estate License, 1986 child Joseph Hall leg- Amy, John, Amanda, Courtney legislative service islative service elected to the Senate in 2002, elected to the Senate in 2002, reelected subse- reelected subsequently; House of Representatives, quently; House of Representatives, 2000-2002 1996-2002 religious affiliation Catholic recre- historical Napoleon B. Broward, Great-grandfa- ation freshwater fishing, mountain climbing, hik- ther, Governor of Florida, 1905-1909 religious ing, kayaking addresses (district) 1120 North affiliation Catholic recreation golf, tennis Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River 34429 addresses (district) 824 US Highway 1, #210, (Tallahassee) 311 Senate Office Building 404 North Palm Beach 33408 (Tallahassee) 212 South Monroe Street, 32399-1100 telephones Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street, Statewide: 1/866/538-2831 (district) 352/860- 32399-1100 telephones (district) 561/625-5101 5175 (Tallahassee) 850/487-5017. or 954/847-3518 (Tallahassee) 850/487-5100. Carey Baker Larcenia J. Bullard Republican, District 20 Democrat, District 39 Owner, The A.W. Peterson Gun Shop born March Housewife born July 21, 1947 in Allendale, 16, 1963 in Eustis education Lake Sumter South Carolina.