In The Golden Years…The Florida Legislature, ’70′s and ’80′s, I discuss a number of young Floridians destined for success in public service–Bob Graham, Bob Shevin, Ander Crenshaw, Karen Coolman, Bruce Smathers, Steve Pajcic, Terrell Sessums, and Dick Pettigrew, among others. But perhaps the most obvious was a young man from Rocky Point in Brevard County. He was a star quarterback at Melbourne High School, was elected President of Boy’s State, went to Yale undergraduate school, The University of Virginia School of Law, and was even a world recognized Astronaut while serving in the U.S. Congress representing Central Florida.
I served with Bill Nelson in the Florida House of Representatives, socializing with him and his family, and raising funds for many of his campaigns. The biggest criticism about our Senior Senator is as one of his closest friends once told me, “Sometimes he is just too pristine.” By that, I think it was meant to say when he speaks in public, his body language seems planned and strategic, as if he is trying to act. You will seldom see Senator Nelson bolt from the safe and moderate position–sort of like the expression, “Put a safe position between you and an angry voter.” The criticism may be unfair, but it comes with being a person, who with his wife, was described on the cover of a Florida Trend magazine issue as ” the Ken and Barbie” of Florida politics.
But make no mistake, Senator Nelson will likely win his 3rd term in the Senate and will become in seniority Florida’s most powerful public servant in this decade…in spite of not being perfect.
