2010 in Florida politics: Year in Review

For Florida politics, 2010 has been a transformational year. We saw what were considered "outsider" candidates elected to office at a record rate. The sitting Governor, newly-independent to avoid a primary loss, lost to former Speaker Marco Rubio by 2 to 1 with a Democrat in the race. I was an early supporter of Marco after he announced in May 2009. After meeting him for the first time and hearing the speech he gave on the floor of the Florida House in 2008, I knew he had a bright political future. When I heard his stump speech in person for the first time in the fall of 2009, I felt at that moment he could win the US Senate nomination. Yes, even when I read about the millions that Governor Crist was raising in NY and DC and how Crist had the support of the GOP establishment. Senator-elect Rubio ran a positive campaign and is now on the short list for future nomination in 2012 for Vice President of the United States.

 We are about to inaugurate a new Governor of Florida next week, Rick Scott. Bay County provided crucial votes during the primary and general election and was one of the counties that voted for Rick in the highest percentage statewide. Yesterday Governor-elect Scott returned to Bay County as part of his inauguration's "Appreciation Tour" and the Shrimp Boat, where his first major fund raiser was held here. The Governor has proposed new solutions to Florida's economic and budgetary problems. An attendee at the luncheon remarked that the Governor "will have to fight all the Democrats and 1/2 the Republicans to get his agenda passed". This will be something to watch as the 2011 Legislative Session draws near. I have met with legislators in Tallahassee over the past 3 years, and this upcoming year will be like no other I have known with a GOP super-majority in both houses of the Legislature as well as an all-Republican cabinet. The time for the Republican Party in Florida to deliver is now or face the wrath of the voters in 2 years.

We also have a new Congressman in Steve Southerland. He, Campaign Manager Jonathan Hayes, and the rest of Team Southerland ran a classy campaign in contrast to the personal attacks launched by incumbent Democrat Allen Boyd. Boyd's votes for the healthcare bill which also killed 700 Sallie Mae jobs here locally was the defining issue of the campaign. The level of advertising by 3rd-party 527s was above and beyond anything seen in the past. Steve's victory was truly historic, with the 2nd Congressional District being held by a Republican for the first time since the 19th Century. As a new Congressman Mr. Southerland faces the challenge of joining the 112th US Congress in an era of economic uncertainty not seen since the Great Depression.
2010 was a year that witnessed a historic change in politics. Ordinary citizens became more disgusted with their government and leaders and decided to move in a completely different direction.This is not a reward for the Republicans but an opportunity to turn this state and nation's economy around using free market principles. We cannot afford for them to fail. The stakes are just too high.