Sen. Latvala is nobody's lackey

State Sen. Jack Latvala is one of my favorite members of the Florida legislature. In a body full of undistinguished do-nothings, that's not really saying much, but Latvala is genuinely a good guy who is smart, capable, independent and well-intentioned.

I haven't always sung the praises of Latvala. In fact, over coffee last week, he reminded me my Irreverent View column's endorsement of his opponent last year was the only one he didn't get.

I'm not afraid to admit I was wrong about him. At the time I thought he was just another career politician climbing the ladder.

During this year's legislative session Latvala and a few other senators served as something of a speed bump to the heavy-handed tactics of Senate President (and current U.S. Senate candidate) Mike Haridipolos' agenda. Those tactics, it seems, were driven by candidate Haridopolos' ambition, over leader Haridopolos' concerns for the state of Florida.

The few senators who stood up to their leader from time-to-time gave some semblance of balance, reason and common sense to a chamber that otherwise seemed made up of androids afraid of their own shadow.

Latvala put the brakes on several misguided initiatives, but he said his biggest disappointment this session was that the Legislature "didn't do enough to create jobs."

When asked why it didn't do more, he raised his eyebrow and said, "Damned if I know. We did five abortion bills — more than we did in the eight years when I was in the Senate before. And we did three gun bills for the NRA, but not enough for job creation."

He noted the biggest difference between the old Senate and the current Senate is the latter is "not as deliberative."

"The 'follow the leader' idea — that it's about the presiding leader's agenda versus the members' wants — is different. In the old days we had caucuses that decided what to do. I've never been good at doing what I was told."

No, senator, that much is obvious, and God bless you for it.

But Latvala is quick to add that "Mike Haridopolos is a fine young man. He's got great motives and ideology. It's just that I have a different attitude about things."

Differences such as that $150,000 Haridopolos book written in crayon on the back of a box of Cap'n Crunch immediately come to my mind, but the point of this column isn't Haridopolos' shamelessness – it's about what a great public servant Latvala is.

On the subject of Gov. Rick Scott, Latvala says in a single word he would describe him as humble. "[Scott] is very ideologically set in his ways. He's still on a learning curve…he's doing a good job…he's going to get where he wants to go."

Latvala shared his views on a number of other subjects, including his being a conservationist (asking rhetorically, "Why is it you're labeled a liberal if you care about the environment?"); support for leadership funds (he says the new law is more transparent than the old statute); who he likes for president (he liked Haley Barbour and doesn't think all the candidates have emerged yet); his opposition to "e-verify" as written in the session's immigration bill (it would have required every business in the state to be subject to the cost and paperwork of "e-verifying" every employee — even a sole proprietor running a home-based business would have had to "e-verify" himself); and the tea party (he suggests they're too pure for their own good — "they'd rather have a conservative win a primary and lose in November to a Democrat than elect a moderate Republican").

As for some of his colleagues, when asked about Sen. Mike Fasano, the New Port Richey Republican, Latvala said, "He's a bulldog. When he gives you his word, that's all you need."

On Sen. Rhonda Storms of Brandon he said, "Rhonda is the most prepared member of the Senate. "

My respect for Jack Latvala is based on what I believe to be his strong sense of duty, durable moral compass of right and wrong, and willingness to listen.

But for all my newfound admiration, I found at least one chink in the armor:

He unapologetically continues to support the biggest dud in Hillsborough County politics – fellow state Sen. Jim Norman.