State Sen. Bill Galvano of Bradenton says Senate might appeal Florida redistricting decision

State Sen. Bill Galvano of Bradenton: Senate may appeal Florida redistricting decision

Uncertainty over new Senate district lines left some Manatee-Sarasota area politicos in campaign limbo, but 2016 and 2018 state elections are a little more clear with new districts announced Wednesday.

Circuit Judge George Reynolds approved a Senate district map recommended by a coalition of voting rights groups rather than one put forth by state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who chaired the Senate Reapportionment Committee. Neither the Florida Senate nor the House approved the map recommended by Galvano.

The Senate can appeal Reynolds' decision and require approval of the map by the Florida Supreme Court. David King, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said he would be surprised if the Senate appeals after the Supreme Court sided with the plaintiffs in the similar congressional redistricting process.

"If the Senate does not appeal, then this goes into effect," King said. "And I would be very surprised if they tried to challenge it with the Supreme Court, given the history."

Galvano, however, said the Senate was still considering an appeal. He said he saw issues with minority performance districts as a problem in the plaintiff's map.

"I would say there's a likelihood that we'll move the issue further," Galvano said. "But that's ultimately up to the Senate president. We're making the determination of what we'll do next at the state and the federal level."

The approved map changes Galvano's district drastically: It is now made up of all of Manatee County and large part of Hillsborough County. Hardee, DeSoto, Glades and portions of Charlotte and Highlands were moved out of the district.

"From a Manatee County standpoint, this is a good district," Galvano said. "And I still plan to work with people in those other counties ... but it is what it is."

King said Reynolds' decision means all 40 Senate districts will be up for election in 2016. Florida's Constitution requires Senate elections to be staggered every two years, so half the elected senators will have to run again in 2018, while the other half will serve a full four-year term.

Reynolds ordered the Senate to randomly assign numbers to all 40 districts within three days of his decision. Even-numbered districts get two-year terms and are up for election again in 2018, while odd-numbered ones wait for 2020, King said.

Galvano had filed to run for re-election in 2018, before the redistricting process began.

Redistricting had also thrown the plans of state Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, into disarray. Steube has been open about his intent to run for the seat now held by state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who announced earlier this year she would give up her Senate position in 2016 to run for the Sarasota County Commission.

That district remains the same under Reynolds' decision, and is comprised of Sarasota and the western part of Charlotte counties. Steube still resides within its boundaries and can say he officially plans to run for the seat in 2016.

"Once everything is in order, I'll transfer my House campaign funds into a Senate campaign," Steube said. He has raised $192,680 towards a reelection campaign for his House seat, according to campaign finance records.

Steube's official withdrawal from the House race is welcome news to Republicans Joe Gruters and Steve Vernon, who have filed for his seat in 2016. If Steube chose to run for re-election, they wouldn't run against him, but they filed anyway because of the prospects of Steube running for state Senate.

Gruters, of Sarasota, is presidential candidate Donald Trump's Florida campaign chairman and as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. He has raised $101,104 for the seat, compared with Vernon's $2,825.

Vernon, of Lakewood Ranch, is president of the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "State Sen. Bill Galvano of Bradenton says Senate might appeal Florida redistricting decision ."