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Editorial: Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa makes history again

 
State Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the new Democratic leader, is no stranger to breaking barriers.
State Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the new Democratic leader, is no stranger to breaking barriers.
Published Nov. 22, 2014

Arthenia Joyner of Tampa this week became the first African-American woman elected to lead the Florida Senate's Democratic caucus. It is a accomplishment noteworthy because of its historical significance and the respect Joyner has earned from her fellow lawmakers during her 14 years in Tallahassee. Outspoken and bold, she rarely backs down in the face of fierce opposition. In her new role, she should continue to speak out against injustice, advocate on behalf of the underserved and use her relationships to forge compromises with the majority party.

Joyner, 71, grew up in Tampa. She was part of the city's sit-in movement as a student at the old Middle Senior High School. She continued her activism in college and earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Florida A&M University. When no firm would hire her after she finished law school, she opened her own practice. No stranger to breaking barriers, Joyner was the first African-American woman to practice law in Hillsborough County and is the longest-practicing black female attorney in the state's history. She also was president of the National Bar Association. Joyner was elected to the Florida House in 2000 and to the Senate in 2006, representing parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties.

Given the strength of the Republican-led Legislature, the challenge facing Joyner and her fellow Democrats may seem Sisyphean. She will need to rally her colleagues to stand up for issues that she has long championed and the Republican majority has opposed, such as Medicaid expansion and the restoration of voting rights for felons. Joyner, who will leave office in 2016 because of term limits, should make time to cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders. But before she passes the torch, Joyner has significant work to tackle on behalf of the millions of Floridans who depend on the minority party to make sure their concerns are addressed.