Mitch Perry
A bill to make Secretary of State an elected, Cabinet-level post advanced Wednesday through the Senate Rules Committee.
Legislation by Fernandina Beach Republican Aaron Bean (SB 882) rolled through the committee with neither debate nor discussion.
Historically, the Secretary of State in Florida was elected by the public, but that changed in 1998 when constitutional changes removed that position from the elected Cabinet of the executive branch.
Bean has argued in committee meetings that four is an odd number for the cabinet, and needs another member. Currently, 2-2 ties on votes in the Cabinet go to the side that the governor supports.
The bill needs two-thirds support in both the House and Senate to make it on the 2018 ballot as a constitutional amendment, where it would need 60 percent support of the public to become law.
Companion legislation is being sponsored in the House by Martin County Republican Gayle Harrell.
