Michael S. Bennett
Encyclopedia
Michael S. Bennett is a Republican
member of the Florida Senate
, who has represented the 21st District since 2002. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives
from 2001 to 2002.
Bennett was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2000, and was elected to the Senate in November 2002, and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. He represents District 21, which encompasses most of Manatee County
, the northern portion of Sarasota County
, the western part of DeSoto County
, the central part of Charlotte County
, and northwestern Lee County
.
In 2010, Bennett was named President Pro Tempore
of the Senate. Bennett serves as chairman of Community Affairs. In the past, he also chaired the Senate's Policy and Steering Committee on Commerce and Industry.
Bennett's other Senate committee memberships includes Banking and Insurance, Finance and Tax, Health Regulation, Military Affairs and Domestic Security, Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations, Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, Reapportionment, and Select Committee on Florida's Economy.
in 1955 when he was 10 years old, joining the U.S. Navy in 1963 fresh out of high school, serving four tours during the Vietnam War
.
After his military career, Bennett earned his bachelor of arts degree from Drake University
in 1975, and his masters of business administration a year later.
He is the president of Aladdin Wand Electric, a company that he has been a part of since 1985.
Despite the lack of opposition, Bennett raised just under $322,000 between his filing for re-election in April 2005 to the November 2008 election.
Bennett also ran unopposed in 2004, last seeing an opponent in his first run for the Senate in 2002 when he faced Mark G. Flanagan
in the Republican primary, and Democrat
C.J. Czaia in the general election. In that campaign, Bennett raised more than $630,000, including a $100,000 loan he made to the campaign in early 2002. Flanagan raised $176,605 for the Republican primary while Garza raised just over $50,000 in the general election.
with Republicans Baxter Troutman
and Kevin Ambler
in the Florida House of Representatives to increase length of terms for senators to six years, and state representatives to four years, capping years of service for all state lawmakers, elected county officials and municipal officers to 12 consecutive years in office. That resolution, however, died in committee the following April.
Bennett also filed S.B. 614 in November the same year, which would have required water and wastewater utilities to submit tariffs reflecting the surcharge
to the Florida Public Service Commission
for approval. That bill died in committee the following April.
on June 1, 2009. The bill essentially changed how local governments in some parts of the state could charge impact fees, eliminating developments of regional impact—where large-scale residential or commercial developments were responsible for upgrading transportation around the project—in high-density population areas.
The bill passed the Senate 32-8 on April 2, 2009, and later passed the House 76-41.
Tallahassee
Circuit Judge Charles Francis, however, declared the law unconstitutional in August 2010, claiming it was an "unfunded mandate
." The Florida Constitution
generally prohibits lawmakers from forcing municipalities to spend more than 10 cents per Floridian.
A year later, he was calling for no oil drilling off Florida's coast, instead encouraging the state to pursue alternative energy sources, including biofuels. Bennett said Florida's economic success depends on environmental preservation and not oil profits, and that drilling could have detrimental effects to the state's ecosystem.
The video of Bennett opening the image and closing it three seconds later was picked up by international media, many claiming Bennett was viewing pornography
. However, a subsequent investigation by Tom Lyons with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
determined that Bennett simply opened an e-mail from Ray Fice, a former circuit court
administrator and high school classmate of Bennett, who sent the picture as a joke of what he was missing at his school's class reunion.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, who has represented the 21st District since 2002. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 2001 to 2002.
Bennett was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2000, and was elected to the Senate in November 2002, and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. He represents District 21, which encompasses most of Manatee County
Manatee County, Florida
Manatee County is a county in the state of Florida. According to the 2010 census by the U.S. Census Bureau there are 322,833 people living in Manatee Country.Manatee County is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, the northern portion of Sarasota County
Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 372,057. Its county seat is Sarasota, Florida....
, the western part of DeSoto County
DeSoto County, Florida
DeSoto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 32,209. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 35,406 . Its county seat is Arcadia, Florida. The county comprises the Arcadia, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :DeSoto...
, the central part of Charlotte County
Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county was 152,814...
, and northwestern Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
.
In 2010, Bennett was named President Pro Tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Senate. Bennett serves as chairman of Community Affairs. In the past, he also chaired the Senate's Policy and Steering Committee on Commerce and Industry.
Bennett's other Senate committee memberships includes Banking and Insurance, Finance and Tax, Health Regulation, Military Affairs and Domestic Security, Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations, Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, Reapportionment, and Select Committee on Florida's Economy.
Personal life
Bennett moved to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1955 when he was 10 years old, joining the U.S. Navy in 1963 fresh out of high school, serving four tours during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
After his military career, Bennett earned his bachelor of arts degree from Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in 1975, and his masters of business administration a year later.
He is the president of Aladdin Wand Electric, a company that he has been a part of since 1985.
Election history
On November 4, 2008, Bennett was re-elected unopposed to the Florida Senate in a term that ends in 2012 when all senators, by law, are up for re-election. It was one of only six seats out of 21 up for grabs that had no opponent in the general election, and was one of four that went to Republicans.Despite the lack of opposition, Bennett raised just under $322,000 between his filing for re-election in April 2005 to the November 2008 election.
Bennett also ran unopposed in 2004, last seeing an opponent in his first run for the Senate in 2002 when he faced Mark G. Flanagan
Mark G. Flanagan
Mark G. Flanagan is a former member of the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He currently lives in Bradenton, Florida, and is a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley.-Education:...
in the Republican primary, and Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
C.J. Czaia in the general election. In that campaign, Bennett raised more than $630,000, including a $100,000 loan he made to the campaign in early 2002. Flanagan raised $176,605 for the Republican primary while Garza raised just over $50,000 in the general election.
2010 legislative session
On November 4, 2009, Bennett introduced Senate Bill 598, part of a joint resolutionJoint resolution
In the United States Congress, a joint resolution is a legislative measure that requires approval by the Senate and the House and is presented to the President for his/her approval or disapproval, in exactly the same case as a bill....
with Republicans Baxter Troutman
Baxter Troutman
Baxter Troutman is a Winter Haven, Florida Citrus Grower, businessman, and Republican politician who serves as the representative for District 66 in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2002, and was re-elected to three more...
and Kevin Ambler
Kevin Ambler
Kevin Ambler is an American trial lawyer and 4 term representative of District 47 in the Florida House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party.He is married to Mindy Hanopole and has two children, Jason Ambler and Jami Ambler...
in the Florida House of Representatives to increase length of terms for senators to six years, and state representatives to four years, capping years of service for all state lawmakers, elected county officials and municipal officers to 12 consecutive years in office. That resolution, however, died in committee the following April.
Bennett also filed S.B. 614 in November the same year, which would have required water and wastewater utilities to submit tariffs reflecting the surcharge
Surcharge
A surcharge may mean:*an extra fee added onto another fee or charge** Fuel surcharge, sky freight charges which represents additions due to jet fuel prices.** Bunker adjustment factor, sea freight charges which represents additions due to oil prices....
to the Florida Public Service Commission
Florida Public Service Commission
Florida Public Service Commission is a regulatory agency serving the public of Florida by managing its public utilities, including telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater....
for approval. That bill died in committee the following April.
Senate Bill 360
Bennett was the author of Senate Bill 360, a complex growth management bill that passed both houses and was signed by Gov. Charlie CristCharlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
on June 1, 2009. The bill essentially changed how local governments in some parts of the state could charge impact fees, eliminating developments of regional impact—where large-scale residential or commercial developments were responsible for upgrading transportation around the project—in high-density population areas.
The bill passed the Senate 32-8 on April 2, 2009, and later passed the House 76-41.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
Circuit Judge Charles Francis, however, declared the law unconstitutional in August 2010, claiming it was an "unfunded mandate
Unfunded mandate
In United States law and politics, unfunded mandates are regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state or local governments or private entities for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government....
." The Florida Constitution
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
generally prohibits lawmakers from forcing municipalities to spend more than 10 cents per Floridian.
Gulf oil drilling opposition
In November 2009, Bennett wanted to have both sides of the Gulf oil drilling debate presented to a non-governmental group to review the science, saying he didn't think state lawmakers "knew enough" about the debate.A year later, he was calling for no oil drilling off Florida's coast, instead encouraging the state to pursue alternative energy sources, including biofuels. Bennett said Florida's economic success depends on environmental preservation and not oil profits, and that drilling could have detrimental effects to the state's ecosystem.
E-mail controversy
In May 2010, Bennett was checking e-mail during debate on the Senate floor when he was photographed opening a picture on his laptop computer depicting four women in bikinis.The video of Bennett opening the image and closing it three seconds later was picked up by international media, many claiming Bennett was viewing pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
. However, a subsequent investigation by Tom Lyons with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is a daily newspaper located in Sarasota, Florida.It is owned by The New York Times Company, who purchased it in 1982, and part of its regional news group. Along with Comcast, the newspaper operates a local 24-hour...
determined that Bennett simply opened an e-mail from Ray Fice, a former circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
administrator and high school classmate of Bennett, who sent the picture as a joke of what he was missing at his school's class reunion.
External links
- Florida State Legislature - Senator Michael S. Bennett official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Michael S. 'Mike' Bennett (Fla.) profile
- Follow the Money - Michael S (Mike) Bennett