Raymond Edward Sansom, a native Floridian from the Panhandle, officially became Speaker of the Florida House this morning following a unanimous vote of the 120-member body.

He quickly cut through the ceremony, saying Florida faces some of its greatest challenges ever and offered a broad conservative vision to meet them.

"We have an economy that has slowed down and needs to be awakened. We have an over-regulated workforce. We have citizens that seem to be exhausted with government, just talk to them."

Sansom, 46 and a father of three, quoted pastor Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. "The first sentence of that book says, 'It's not about you.' It can't be about us. If we walk in here with the attitude that it's not about us, it's about the people we serve, we will meet the challenges for the next two years in the state of Florida. I am convinced of that." (Buzz audio here.)

Thirty five new House members were also sworn in, taking the oath from Judge John Stargel, a former lawmaker from Lakeland. The House also passed a resolution in memory of Rep. Stan Mayfield, who died of cancer in September.

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