An interview with Senator Don Gaetz

On Sept. 19, State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, will become the leader of the State Senate.

The position is not self-sought; rather, Gaetz’s fellow members of the Senate have “tapped” him to be the next Senate President. Gaetz will be instilled as Senate President during a 140-year old historical ceremony. The heart of the ceremony is a roll call – where the current president asks each member of the senate to call out the name of the person she or he wants to be the leader of the senate.

“I didn’t campaign,” explained Gaetz. “It is all about relationships and trust and shared values. Even though there are people with very different points of view, I’ve even had Democrats coming up to give me their pledge which is extraordinarily unusual.”

In a recent sit-down interview, Gaetz spoke of the upcoming reapportionment of political districts and how residents should take note of the impending changes, among other things.

For more on this story, see the August 25 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.