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Former state Sen. Ken Plante dies after battle with ALS

 
In May 2013, longtime Tallahassee lobbyist Wayne Watters adds a personal note to a poster-sized get-well card for Ken Plante at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Plante, a former senator and lobbyist, died Saturday night from ALS.
In May 2013, longtime Tallahassee lobbyist Wayne Watters adds a personal note to a poster-sized get-well card for Ken Plante at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Plante, a former senator and lobbyist, died Saturday night from ALS.
Published March 2, 2015

TALLAHASSEE — Former state Sen. Ken Plante died Sunday night after a three-year battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Plante, 75, was hospitalized last week as his condition worsened.

A Republican born in Orlando, Plante was elected to the Senate from Winter Park in 1967. He left the Legislature in 1978, but remained in Tallahassee as a lobbyist for a number of commercial clients and Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush, now exploring a run for president, visited Plante at his home last month during a fundraising trip to Tallahassee. Plante left his private lobbying clients to become director of legislative affairs for Bush after he became governor in 1999.

Bush said Sunday night that Plante met "the terrible diagnosis in the way he seemed to face all challenges — with great courage, incredible resolve, and unwavering faith." Bush noted that "Ken was a steady hand, and provided our team with the much needed reassurance that 'everything would be okay in the end' during our first legislative session. We were chaotic, but Ken was always calm, and his experience helped us navigate the process."

Plante was an uncommon lobbyist, esteemed by legislators, governors and his fellow lobbyists.

He often talked about his growing dislike of the influence of money in the political process where he worked for more than 30 years. In the final years of his life, Plante worked with former Gov. Reubin Askew and others in trying to draft a constitutional amendment to limit the money political candidates can raise and spend. They wanted to find a way to impose limits despite U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have overturned many attempts to limit contributions. With the death of Askew a year ago and Plante's illness, the effort foundered and died.

"The money has become obscene,'' Plante told the Tampa Bay Times in 2012. "Somehow we have got to turn this thing around.''

Plante left the Legislature because he opposed a constitutional amendment pushed by Askew and approved by voters in 1976. It required all public officials to disclose all of their personal financial interests. He also opposed a law that requires lobbyists to disclose their income, but established a professional association to improve ethics among lobbyists.

Former House Minority Leader R. Dale Patchett, a longtime friend, announced Plante's medical situation Sunday afternoon, saying Plante was not expected to survive more than a few hours.

"Florida has lost another great leader and I have lost a great friend and mentor,'' Patchett wrote on Facebook as he advised friends that Plante was near death. The announcement started a cascade of comments from former legislators, other lobbyists and reporters who knew him.

Former Senate President Toni Jennings said Plante recruited her to run for the state House in 1976 and taught her many lessons.

"With Ken, his word was his bond,'' Jennings said. "If he couldn't support something, he was up front about it. And Ken lived both his private and his public life in a way that reflected his principles — ethically, honestly … Florida is a better place because of Ken's leadership."

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"Integrity, strong conviction and statesman are just a few words to describe a dear friend and mentor,'' wrote former Florida Secretary of State and Rep. Sandy Mortham. "He will be seriously missed by all those who seek to make a difference in our state government''

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Plante and his wife, Sandy, have seven children, 14 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

His lobbying clients included Southeast Toyota, Tampa Bay Downs, Southland Corp., Southern Bell, Duke Energy and others.

Plante spent months trying to figure out what was wrong with him when he first felt weakness in his arm and shoulder several years ago. He noticed other weakness and shortness of breath by the summer of 2011 but it was another year before the diagnosis was confirmed. ALS is characterized by a steady loss of muscle control, paralysis, breathing and speech difficulties.

The cause of the disease remains unknown.