Photo: Freshman in November were sworn into the House, including James Buchanan (far left), Will Robinson and Tommy Gregory (far right).

Tallahassee is a town of influence. Heading into this year’s legislative session, which formally starts March 5, there’s reason for hope and for patience. On the one hand, the Sarasota-Bradenton area heads in with greater influence than it has enjoyed in a decade with a Senate president who calls this region home. On the other, it sends its greenest delegation in years.

On balance, the power of state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, in the capitol probably outweighs any inexperience and lack of seniority suffered from the rest of the region’s lawmakers. The leader already has demonstrated a desire to rank the region’s needs high over the next two years.

Some of his moves will surely be seen as controversial, including efforts to consolidate the University of South Florida and his ambitious hope to start construction on a highway from Polk to Collier counties. But as Mote Marine Laboratory looks for recognition as the state’s top voice on red tide, everyone likely will agree it’s good to have Galvano running one of the Florida Legislature’s two chambers.

“When you have people from your region in leadership, it doesn’t guarantee things,” Galvano told SRQ. “It’s a process involving 160 members. But it does create more of an opportunity for access and for advocacy.”

That’s why state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, says if there’s any major spending projects people want to see here, push hard in the next two years.

Gruters has made a big splash himself. As a freshman, he’s chairing the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. He’s not exactly a newcomer to the Legislature, having spent two years in the state House already. "I'm a practicing CPA on the frontlines of business," he said.

But he’s also had a lift in influence for being chairman of the Republican Party of Florida this year, an unexpected boost but one that at least subliminally will leave colleagues in his own party ready to make stronger bonds.

Plus, he’s been one of the most active and ambitious bill filers this year, openly suggesting he wants to set a record.

In the House, well, we may have to count on representatives being a little scrappy. State Rep. Newt Newton, D-St. Petersburg, enters his second House term as the senior House member for both Sarasota and Manatee. He lives in Pinellas and he’s in the minority party.

State Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, by virtue of a special election win at least has some partial session experience. And perhaps because she flipped a seat from red to blue, she’s also taken on a role as a Democratic deputy leader. Again, though, she’s in the minority party in the state House.

State Reps. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, and James Buchanan, R-Venice, have all shown competence in the job so far, tackling meaty issues, if not high-profile ones.

But with four freshman and one sophomore lawmaker in the House, there’s no doubt the region will be represented by good footsoldiers who are not yet commanders.

Gruters isn't that worried though. "The freshmen, Ds and Rs, are all working together and we're going to have a terrific session for this community," he said.

And the good side of having freshman in office in 2019 is that there may be one heck of a class in place come the end of 2024. Assuming these lawmakers all stick it out in their current office (and term limits mean Galvano’s Senate seat will open up next year), there’s reason to have high hopes for the future in coming sessions, regardless what benefits the region reaps this year.

Photo: Freshman in November were sworn into the House, including James Buchanan (far left), Will Robinson and Tommy Gregory (far right).