State Rep. Will Weatherford 'doesn't shirk the tough stuff'

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third article in a series of stories on Pasco County people to watch in 2012.

Last week, state Rep. Will Weatherford let it be known he wasn't pleased with the proposed Senate redistricting map.

The future speaker of the House didn't want his home county "shortchanged." He wanted to see alternatives, so amendments were being prepared. And just like that, it reminded voters of why Weatherford, more than any other Pasco County politician, is a person to watch in 2012 — and not just in Florida.

Governing magazine recently named Weatherford one of 12 legislators to watch this year. He was the only Floridian on the list.

He has token opposition, yet his re-election war chest is approaching $400,000.

Every time he expresses an opinion, it's news. On Friday, he told The Pasco Tribune he would introduce a House version of Sen. Alan Hays' water bill. The bill would change how public and private water utilities charge their customers, and it would allow the Public Service Commission to penalize utilities for selling drinking water with a foul taste or odor.

"My bill's going to be pretty much identical," Weatherford said.

State Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, filed the bill on Weatherford's behalf during the weekend. House Bill 1379, if it ever becomes law, would give the state ammunition to drive for-profit water companies such as Aqua Utilities out of business. Without Weatherford's stamp of approval, it likely would die in committee.

Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political science professor, called it a "smart move" for a legislator who has a reputation for being pro-business. "That's something that hasn't gotten a lot of press, but it's very consumer-friendly," she said.

She said Weatherford has shown a willingness to take on duties such as redistricting that can be thankless. He hosted dozens of town hall meetings across the state during the summer and took a beating from citizens critical of the process.

"He really did take those hearings seriously," MacManus said. "Here's a guy who doesn't shirk the tough stuff."