Photo courtesy Robinson: State reps. Daniel Perez and Will Robinson.

Lawmakers turned back up in Tallahassee this week in part to name Daniel Perez as Speaker-Designate for the Florida House. The vote makes clear Perez will preside over the Florida Legislature’s lower chamber, presuming Republicans control the chamber after next year’s elections.  It’s a sort years-late certification of a behind-the-scenes election he won over Bradenton Republican Will Robinson four years ago.

The ceremony in the Florida Capitol prompted the normal kudos and building of good will from members. Included in that was a public expression of support for Perez from Robinson.

“Congratulations Speaker Designate Perez!” Robinson posted on social media. “A wonderful acceptance speech that hit on so many important topics, including the power of limited and efficient government. Easiest vote I will cast all year!”

One can’t help but wonder based on that if Robinson expects a whole lot of votes this year that feel bittersweet and wistful about what might have been. But speaking to the local lawmaker after the fact, he said the 2019 race between himself and Perez never turned hostile, even though it was very close.

In the term-limits era, Republicans in the Florida House have taken to deciding races years in advance. A couple months, a new class of freshman lawmakers picked Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, as Florida’s first female Speaker— in November of 2028. Plenty can happen in the meantime. While it’s difficult to imagine Democrats climbing out of super-minority status in the next 14 months, it’s really anyone’s guess how the next couple election cycles play out. 

For example, many of the lawmakers who participated in the race where Robinson defeated Perez no longer serve in the House, some elected to higher offices and other simply leaving the political process altogether. Local politicos may recall the battle generated a surprising amount of regional controversy, essentially being decided when Rep. James Buchanan, R-Venice, sided with Perez and rebuffed a media campaign to back Robinson and force a tie. 

Yet, the decision to name Perez as Speaker effectively was carved in stone in June of 2019, when Robinson withdrew from the race and pledged his own support to Perez. He secured a promise at the time Perez would “not be vindictive to anyone on the team.”

But Robinson shared with me a story suggesting that never was too great a concern. Speakers of the House typically provide lawmakers with a token gift at the start of their terms; Robinson still has the journal then-Speaker Jose Oliva gave him at the start of his freshman term. He revisited the pages shortly before the Speaker-Designate ceremony this week and saw a note he wrote to himself on the first page. “Danny is such a good person,” Robinson wrote, it seemed to his future self. “I hope the Speaker’s race doesn’t impact our friendship. I’ll never forget how nice he was to my Dad on the House floor.”

Robinson’s father, Bradenton businessman Will Robinson, Sr., was being treated for leukemia at the time his son started his first Session in the House. Last year, the disease claimed his life, adding additional sentimentality to the works scribbled in the lawmakers’ journal years ago.

For the record, Robinson hasn’t exactly languished on the backbench since his defeat in 2019 for House Speaker. He played a key role in the drawing of legislative districts last cycle. In the upcoming Session, he chairs the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, where he plans to tackle deed reform and a breadth of other issues this Session.

As for next year when Perez presumably wields the gavel, Robinson feels confident Perez has a strong feel of every member’s strengths, including Robinson’s penchant for overseeing committees. Come next winter, Robinson feels confident he will get a fair shake.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ MEDIA.

Photo courtesy Robinson: State reps. Daniel Perez and Will Robinson.