Dan Raulerson says he’s not resigning, just resting

Dan Raulerson says rumors of his political demise are just that – rumors.

“It’s third grade playground stuff,” the state representative said Wednesday, “and you can quote me on that.”

He was absent this week as fellow lawmakers attended “Legislator University” classes. Soon, the Capitol was abuzz with speculation that the Plant City Republican’s resignation from the House was imminent.

“Absolutely untrue,” he told our Capital Correspondent Jim Rosica in a phone call.

The resignation rumor began after Raulerson alerted the Speaker’s Office that he may be away from Tallahassee in coming weeks as he recovers from back surgery, scheduled for later this week. The next legislative committee week starts Jan. 9.

Raulerson, a CPA, was first elected in 2012. His re-election this year was challenged by his Democratic opponent, however, who said Raulerson’s notary had incorrectly used “correction fluid” on his filing paperwork.

The state’s notary manual says no correction fluid of any kind is allowed on notarized documents.

That case is on hold after Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa, who is representing himself, failed to show up for a Wednesday morning hearing in the case in Tallahassee.

Raulerson is now the second House member to be waylaid by a back operation this year. State Rep. Shevrin Jones, a West Park Democrat, had emergency spinal surgery in October.