A.G. Gancarski
The name Lance Christian Whitaker was not a household name in Jacksonville a short time back.
That changed on May 15, 2018. Responding to a call in treacherous weather early that morning, the 48-year-old Whitaker lost control of his vehicle.
Then-Gov. Rick Scott ordered flags at half-staff. But the movement to commemorate Whitaker’s sacrifice was not over.
On Wednesday, a bill cleared the Senate unanimously that would name a stretch of Interstate 295 as the Lance Christian Whitaker memorial highway.
Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson and Republican counterpart Aaron Bean carried the legislation.
The House version still has a way to go, without a committee stop yet, but has Republican Cord Byrd and Democrat Tracie Davis championing the legislation.
