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State Senate GOP Elects New Leader

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The Associated Press

Published: December 12, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Senate Republicans formally and unanimously elected Sen. Jeff Atwater as the chamber's president-designate if the GOP maintains its majority after the 2008 election. Republicans now have a 26-14 advantage.

Atwater, of North Palm Beach, would serve a two-year term replacing Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie. Pruitt must leave the chamber next year because of an eight-year term limit, but Senate presidents and House speakers traditionally serve in those posts for only two years.

Republicans selected Atwater in the Senate chamber of the Old Capitol, where his great-great grandfather, Napoleon B. Broward, served as governor a century ago - from 1905 to 1909.

Atwater promised to take a bipartisan approach and drew extended applause when he criticized property insurance companies that have continued to raise premiums after the Legislature expanded the state's backup fund for hurricane losses.

Atwater was elected to an open seat in 2002 by defeating one of the state's leading Democrats, former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, now secretary of the Department of Children & Families.

He locked up the Republican race for president-designate more than a year ago in a divisive race with Sen. Alex Villalobos of Miami that nearly paralyzed the Senate. Democrats have chosen Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee as their next leader and potential president if Republicans lose control of the chamber.

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