State Sen. Rob Bradley and his wife Jennifer left Tallahassee the morning after Sine Die, eager to return home. The freshman from Clay County had a busy, and strong first session, where he chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, and co-chaired the corresponding budget conference. He sponsored and passed through the Senate a measure to add dangerous compounds to the list of Schedule I controlled substances, working through the moment the bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
But to Bradley, the accomplishment he was most proud of, was producing “a civil and criminal justice budget that directed necessary additional resources to several proven programs for abused and at-risk children, including Guardian ad Litem and PACE Center for Girls” and doing so thanks to the “diligence and skill” of his fellow Senators and their first class committee staff.
Bradley’s collegiality was a big part of his success.
“If you told me at the beginning of session that a north Florida Republican and a south Florida Democrat were going to join forces to produce a pension reform bill, I would have been surprised,” Bradley wrote regarding the bill that he and Sen. Jeremy Ring passed out of the Senate, “After working with Senator Ring, I’m not surprised at all. He’s an excellent public servant and a neat guy in general.”
Bradley prides himself on being in direct contact with constituents through social media, managing his own Twitter and Facebook accounts and avoiding what Sen. President Don Gaetz describes as the “echo chamber” of Tallahassee.
“To be an effective Senator, you have to know what is on the minds of your constituents, and the only way to do that is to have an ongoing conversation with them,” Bradley writes.
This summer, Bradley will be back to being a full time dad and attorney, and bringing his son Connor — a senior in high school — on a tour of colleges. Bradley just started reading “The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court” by Jeffrey Toobin, and is “waiting patiently” for Anchorman 2.
Otherwise, he will be actively campaigning on behalf of his Senate colleagues who are on the 2014 ballot, and is eager to get back to work in September on his municipal pension reform bill that didn’t get out of the House.
Here is how Senator Bradley is spending his Summer vacation, in his own words:
How long did you linger, if at all, in Tallahassee after Sine Die?
My wife Jennifer and I were eager to return home. We left Tally on Saturday morning.
Legislative accomplishment of which you are most proud?
Our civil and criminal justice appropriations committee worked well together, thanks to the diligence and skill of my fellow Senators and our first class committee staff. We produced a civil and criminal justice budget that directed necessary additional resources to several proven programs for abused and at-risk children, including Guardian ad Litem and PACE Center for Girls. Our State is now much closer to providing these critical services to every Florida child who needs them.
Which one of your legislative colleagues surprised you for the better this past session? Why?
The municipal pension crisis is one of the most serious, yet underreported, issues facing our State. Everyone who understands the issue agrees that it is a ticking time bomb. Senator Jeremy Ring and I worked together to draft and pass out of the Senate a bipartisan bill that we believe effectively addresses the crisis. If you told me at the beginning of session that a north Florida Republican and a south Florida Democrat were going to join forces to produce a pension reform bill, I would have been surprised. After working with Senator Ring, I’m not surprised at all. He’s an excellent public servant and a neat guy in general.
What’s the first thing you did when you returned back to your district?
A good meal with Jennifer and our three kids.
What do you do to communicate to your constituents what occurred during the legislative session? Newsletter? Town hall meetings? What else?
I like to interact with people on social media. My constituents are always giving me feedback on Facebook and Twitter (@Rob_Bradley). That’s me on Facebook and Twitter, not my staff.
I also believe that it’s important to meet with and speak to as many groups as possible. President Gaetz likes to describe Tallahassee as an “echo chamber,” and he’s right. To be an effective Senator, you have to know what is on the minds of your constituents, and the only way to do that is to have an ongoing conversation with them.
When you are not busy being a lawmaker, how will you spend your time this July, August and September?
It’s back to being a full time dad and attorney. Our son Connor is about to be a high school senior, so we will visit colleges this summer.
Do you plan on hitting the campaign trail in the coming months? If not, why not?
I will be actively campaigning on behalf of my friends in the Senate who are on the ballot in 2014.
Any personal vacation plans?
Our family will be enjoying a week at a beach condo.
Any good books on your Summer reading list?
Just started “The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court” by Jeffrey Toobin. I like books that deal with the intersection of law and politics.
Summer movies you are looking forward to seeing?
I’m waiting patiently for Anchorman 2.
Legislative committee meetings begin again during the week of September 23; Too soon? Or are you eager to get back to Tally?
We passed municipal pension reform in the Senate, but it didn’t make it out of the House. I’m eager to start working with my friends in the House on a plan to get it done in 2014.
What do you think will be the top priorities during the 2014 Legislative Session?
Florida’s economy is on the rebound, but there is room for improvement. Too many Floridians remain unemployed or underemployed. President Gaetz and the Senate will continue to focus on policies that create jobs. We believe that a critical component of long term economic growth and job creation in Florida is a world class K-12 and higher education system, because all of our citizens, particularly our children, must have the necessary tools to compete in the global marketplace.
