When Florida Senate President Don Gaetz visited the Herald this week, the Niceville Republican offered a surprising and intriguing response to a question about Sen. Bill Galvano's future leadership potential in the chamber -- in light of the Bradenton attorney's key roles in the House until being termed out two years ago.

"I think that Bill Galvano could be Senate president, he could be attorney general, he could be governor," Gaetz stated, specifically on the record. "Bill Galvano is one of the smartest people I've ever met."

He also applauded Galvano for immediately becoming a chamber leader as a freshman senator, including the drafting of a vital ethics bill designed to rein in public corruption and abuse.

Gaetz obviously holds Galvano in high regard. As does this Editorial Board. Here's to a bright future for one of Bradenton's own.