Haridopolos doesn’t expect distractions from leadership battle between Gardiner and Latvala

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Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said Tuesday that he doesn’t expect an ongoing leadership battle between Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, to distract senators too much as the session goes forward. Both Gardiner and Latvala, who has often lead moderate pushback against the more conservative leadership of the Senate, are eyeing the chamber’s top spot when President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, finishes his term in late 2014. Haridopolos said the Senate frequently goes through similar battles. “I don’t see it affecting the bills that are important to the people of Florida,” he said. “I’m not going to speculate on the votes, other than my understanding is Senator Gardiner has a pretty solid lead, but Jack Latvala’s a very effective senator.” Haridopolos also said he hasn’t intervened in the battle.

Via The News Service of Florida.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.