Staff Reports
House Speaker José Oliva on Monday announced Democratic ranking members for committees and subcommittees for the 2020 Legislative Session.
The decisions were made, he said, “after consulting with House Democratic Leader Kionne McGhee.”
Ranking members serve as the highest level among the minority party. In both the House and the Senate, Democrats are in the minority. If power shifts between parties, ranking members are typically favored to chair committees and subcommittees.
Most of the ranking member assignments went to South Florida lawmakers. Both Oliva and McGhee represent South Florida.
Tampa Bay area lawmakers Wengay Newton, Ben Diamond, Susan Valdes and Margaret Good will all serve in leadership roles. Newton will serve as the ranking member on the Business and Professions Subcommittee, Valdes on the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee, Diamond on the Judiciary Committee and Good on the Health Market Reform Subcommittee.
Four members of the Tampa Bay Area Legislative Delegation did not receive ranking member posts. Those include Reps. Adam Hattersley, Jennifer Webb, Fentrice Driskell and Dianne Hart.
Central Florida Democrats fared well with six appointments including to the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Only a couple each of Democrats from the panhandle and Jacksonville area received appointments.
Here’s the complete list:
Appropriations Committee – Leader Kionne McGhee
Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Kristin Jacobs
Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. John Cortes
Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Nicholas Duran
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Ramon Alexander
Justice Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Sharon Pritchett
PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Patricia Williams
Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee – Rep. Barbara Watson
Commerce Committee – Rep. Evan Jenne
Business & Professions Subcommittee – Rep. Wengay Newton
Energy & Utilities Subcommittee – Rep. Al Jacquet
Gaming Control Subcommittee – Rep. Joe Geller
Insurance & Banking Subcommittee – Rep. Shevrin Jones
Workforce Development & Tourism Subcommittee – Rep. Kamia Brown
Education Committee – Rep. Bruce Antone
Higher Education & Career Readiness Subcommittee – Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith
PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee – Rep. Susan Valdes
Health & Human Services Committee – Rep. Nicholas Duran
Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee – Rep. Loranne Ausley
Health Market Reform Subcommittee – Rep. Margaret Good
Health Quality Subcommittee – Rep. Richard Stark
Judiciary Committee – Rep. Ben Diamond
Civil Justice Subcommittee – Rep. Anika Omphroy
Criminal Justice Subcommittee – Rep. Michael Grieco
Public Integrity & Ethics Committee – Rep. Tracie Davis
Rules Committee – Rep. Al Jacquet
State Affairs Committee – Rep. Bobby DuBose
Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee – Rep. Delores Hogan Johnson
Local Administration Subcommittee – Rep. Matt Willhite
Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee – Rep. David Silvers
Oversight, Transparency & Public Management Subcommittee – Rep. Kim Daniels
Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee – Rep. Geraldine Thompson
Ways & Means Committee – Rep. Amy Mercado
