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March column: Constitution another uphill battle for Arthenia Joyner

 
Former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa is one of three current or former Democratic legislators named to the state Constitutional Revision Commission.
Former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa is one of three current or former Democratic legislators named to the state Constitutional Revision Commission.
Published March 24, 2017

Former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa says serving as one of the small minority of Democrats on the state's Constitutional Revision Commission will be "just a continuation of the battle I've been in since I've been here."

The panel will recommend changes to the state's Constitution to be voted on in the 2018 election. Of its 39 members, at least 31 are Republicans, political allies of Gov. Rick Scott or both.

Joyner is one of three current or former Democratic legislators on the panel, whose members were appointed by Republicans Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, a Republican who switched to no-party after becoming a judge.

Joyner said the group is sure to propose amendments eliminating constitutional provisions that have prevented new restrictions on abortion and diversion of state tax money to private schools; and imposing term limits on appellate and Supreme Court justices, who have ruled against Republican legislation for those causes.

Joyner said her top priorities will be "maintaining the independence of the judiciary," including opposing term limits, protecting public education, and an amendment to automatically restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences and restitution.

Considering the panel is stacked roughly 10-1 against her, she expects to lose.

Then, Joyner said, she'll take the cause to the public, campaigning against the amendments she expects the commission to propose.

Joyner said she's accustomed to being in a small minority since she became the first black female lawyer in Hillsborough County, and later a member of the GOP-dominated Legislature.

"It's really just a continuation of my life," she said.

Henriquez for mayor? Not interested

The latest of many names being floated as potential 2019 mayoral candidates: Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez. But that's not likely, he said.

"People are out there saying that, and it's nice to be considered, and I love the city, but I also love my job," he said. "It's not something I'm seriously considering."

Meanwhile, the first candidate has filed: Michael Anthony Hazard, a 48-year-old delivery truck driver who lives in Brandon but says he plans to move back to Tampa, where he has lived most of his life.

Hazard grew up in the neighborhood around the Ponce de Leon Courts public housing complex, and said he wants to improve inner-city neighborhoods.

A question hanging out there: Does the seemingly endless speculation about potential mayoral candidates suggest dissatisfaction with the field?

Cruz considers Senate, county commission

Democrat Bob Buesing confirmed last week he's interested in another shot at Tampa's District 18 Senate seat, which he lost to Dana Young last year — but state Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, who's term-limited, also might be interested.

Incoming Senate Democratic leaders have urged her to consider it, she said, but she's also considering a county commission seat.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I just don't know," she said this week. "I feel I've done a good job as a leader and I'm not ready to retire yet."

Kemple urges GOP support on textbooks

Religious right activist and former school board candidate Terry Kemple isn't happy that local Republican House members haven't signed up as co-sponsors for a bill on how Florida school systems choose their textbooks.

At a recent county Republican Party meeting, Kemple called out local GOP House members including Jamie Grant, Dan Raulerson, Ross Spano and Jackie Toledo.

The bill would allow any taxpayer, not just any parent, to complain about instructional materials. Kemple said some textbooks contain "pornography" and "anti-American, anti-God, anti-family" material, citing, among others, the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela's Ashes by the late Frank McCourt, a New York school teacher.

But critics say the bill also could lead to challenges of books on evolution or climate change.

Kemple is probably happier with Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, who is co-sponsor of a similar Senate bill.

Contact William March at wemarch@gmail.com