For Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, it is not a question whether he should stay in Tallahassee but that others should leave.
Gaetz told the Rotary Club of Panama City that the Dream Defenders — the group protesting the state’s Stand Your Ground laws — should leave the Capitol.
At the same time, he swears he is going to stay right where he is.
Matthew Beaton in the Panama City News Herald writes that both Gaetz and state Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Panama City think the protest should stop, citing that their actions are not an “effective exercise.” Patronis said that the most effective strategy is to find a sympathetic legislator and bring a repeal of Stand Your Ground.
“The Governor’s made it clear — the (House) speaker, the Senate president made it clear — they’re not calling a special session on this issue,” Patronis told reporters.
The protest does seem to be running out of steam; only 16 Dream Defenders remained Tuesday night at Gov. Scott’s office according to the FDLE.
Gaetz also told Rotary members he is not leaving the Senate any time soon.
With the departure of Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett, the Republican form Niceville –who has a background in education— many thought he would have been interested in taking the job.
Only fueling more speculation about Gaetz’s future was Wednesday’s announcement that Florida State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan is leaving to take a position in Pennsylvania.
However, Gaetz insists that he does not want either job.
“I’ve got three more years to serve in the Senate. I want to finish my term as Senate president — senator for Northwest Florida — but I don’t have any political plans … beyond that,” Gaetz said.
