DESIRE TO LEAD SENATE YEARS IN ADVANCE

One has to have a lot of desire --- and patience --- to become Florida Senate President. Those that succeed have a great deal of power. Deciding what issues will be brought forth, what bills live or die, who serves on what committees, staff and office assignments...it's a truly heady job.

Those who want to be President of the Florida Senate have to prepare years in advance, almost the day one is elected to his/her Senate seat. Decisions are made years in advance. As it stands now, incumbant Senator Tom Lee (R - Bradenton) has one more year at the helm, then he turns the reins over to Sen. Ken Pruitt (R - Port St. Lucie) for two years. In 2008, it looks as though current Majority Leader Sen. Alex Villalobos (R - Miami) has enough support to get the post.

In her column this week, Fort Myers News-Press political columnist Betty Parker notes that Sen. Mike Bennett (R - Bradenton) is starting to get his campaign underway for the Senate presidency...which would begin in 2010. Now, of course, all this depends on several minor things, such as if Bennett can be reelected in his home district through then, and if the Republicans can keep control of the chamber in the meantime. Two Polk County-based senators, Paula Dockery (R - Lakeland) and J.D. Alexander (R - Lake Wales) are also toying with the idea of running.

Ms. Parker's column focuses on the fact that the campaign for the Senate's top job is much like running for any other office. One must raise plenty of money, as the "leadership committees" formed for such campaigns are done to support candidates who would be beholden to their benefactor's presidential effort...and oppose candiates who would support someone else.

In Bennett's case, his first major fundraiser for his "leadership committee", a/k/a Citizens For Housing and Urban Growth", will be held Thursday in Fort Myers.

One can definately see who Senator Bennett is beholden too, if the name of his committee doesn't make it obvious. As Ms. Parker writes (underlined/bold emphasis mine):

The May 19 event's host committee includes some of the area's most prominent developers, and the invitation urges members of the Lee Building Industry Association to participate.

Bennett "is our industry's champion in Tallahassee," the letter said, and he "has a proven record in Tallahassee of representing our causes."

Bennett now serves as chairman of the Senate's community affairs committee, and handled the growth management bill during the session that ended last week.

The letter suggests donations ranging from $250 to $2,000...