State Senate panel will consider whether Powell can keep seat
TALLAHASSEE — R i v i e r a Beach Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell’s courtroom victory this week may not be the last word in whether he retains that seat.
A day after a judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking a re-do election for Powell’s seat, Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, appointed a c re denti a l s c ommittee Tuesday to consider whether the Democrat should continue serving.
Powell’s Republican challenger, Ron Berman, filed the “contest” a day before the Democrat was sworn in on Nov. 22. Powell carried 54 percent of the vote Nov. 8 in defeating Berman.
“I’m excited to move forward as the state senator for Distric t 30,” Powell said. “There was an election, done in good faith.”
Berman, though, unsuccessfully sought to stop Powell’s swearing-in because Ruben Anderson, a Dem- ocrat who never made the primary ballot because of a bounced qualifying check, had filed a lawsuit that was dismissed Monday by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis.
L e wi s s a i d h e d i d n o t have jurisdiction to decide whether Powell should be seated. Lewis said it was up to the Senate to decide.
The f ive - member S e na t e c re d e n t i a l s c o mmittee appointed by Negron is chaired by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, who formerly represented the Welling ton area. The panel is composed of three Republicans and two Democrats and is not expected to meet until January.