The majority party always gets the spoils. As a result, when I served in the Florida legislature during the ’70′s and ’80′s, the Democrats retained the presiding offices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President. Those office holders are well known, for good or bad reasons. But, it is interesting to look at some lawmakers who might have been the presiding officers if the Republicans had been in the majority then (some have switched parties now):
Would Have Probably Been Outstanding Speakers of the House: Don Reed (R., Boca Raton), Bill James (R., Delray Beach), Curt Kiser (R., Clearwater), Ron Richmond (R., New Port Richey), Betty Easley (R., St. Petersburg), Jim Brodie (R., Cutler Ridge), Bev Burnsed Spencer (R., Lakeland), Pete Dunbar (R., Clearwater), Dale Patchett (R., Vero Beach), Fred Tygart (R., Jacksonsville) and Tom Warner (R., Stuart).
Would Have Probably Been Outstanding Senate Presidents: Ken Plante (R., Winter Park), Curt Kiser (R., Clearwater), Warren Henderson (R., Sarasota), Clark Maxwell (R., Melbourne), John Ware (R., St. Petersburg), Pat Neal (R., Bradenton), and Dan Webster (R., Orlando).
They were a
