It's been only two days since Sen. Jim Norman announced he wasn't running for re-election, but as expected support has coalesced around state Rep. John Legg's bid to join the Florida Senate. Five of the most powerful state senators jointly announced their support for Legg today in a statement sent out by the Republican Party of Florida.
Senate President-designate Don Gaetz joined Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, Jack Latvala, Joe Negron and John Thrasher in endorsing Legg. Gardiner will take over the presidency in 2014; Latvala, Negron and Thrasher all want to become Senate president in 2016.
Legg, a Port Richey Republican, faces former state Rep. Rob Wallace and security consultant John Korsak in the August primary.
His other endorsements include Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, House Speaker Dean Cannon, incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford, and Sen. Mike Fasano.
Here is the full text of the joint statement:
Representative Legg has been lifted up by his community for his strong record of service and leadership and chosen by his fellow legislators as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. He will enter the Senate as a respected, powerful voice for the Tampa Bay area.
Over the next few years the Legislature and Governor will be taking bold steps to connect public and private education to the realities and opportunities of the economy. Representative Legg is a proven champion for education reform and shares our vision for an educational system that prepares students for real jobs in the real economy.
Our endorsement of John Legg is an affirmation of what his community has already recognized: in John Legg, the people of Pasco and Hillsborough counties have found a successful and committed advocate for conservative values.
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