It may be the biggest story of my political career…which, yes, I cover in my book, The Golden Years…The Florida Legislature, ’70s and ’80s. The Dean of the Florida Senate, Dempsey Barron from Panama City had singularly controlled the selection of the powerful Senate presidency for over a decade and for the 1980-82 term, he selected his long time confidant, Senator W. D. Childers of Pensacola. After elected, as he started his term in 1980, the new President was seen in the company of his hometown lawyer, named Fred Levin. As I was called to a meeting with President Childers in his Capitol office, I was surprised to see Levin sitting with the President at the start of the meeting. From there it started–the dilution of Dempsey’s absolute control of W.D., and ultimately the Florida Senate, and yes, really, Florida government. This is such a big story, more segments will follow…
