State Rep. Brad Drake Updates Kiwanis, Tuesday July 21, 2009

At the weekly club luncheon  the Kiwanis Club received a summary report from State Representative Brad Drake of  Florida House District 5 that includes Washington County, about his activities at the Statue Legislature.  Drake (shown at left) reported that he was a sponsor or co-sponsor of six bills and three were passed.  After 7 years as legislative assistant to Rep. Don Brown (House District 5), this legislative session was his first since election in 2008.

As a newly elected lawmaker for the recent session, Rep. Drake requested and was assigned to five committees: (1) agriculture and natural resources policy committee; (2) roads, bridges, and ports policy committee; (3) transportation and economic development appropriations committee; (4) state and community college and workforce policy committee; (5) a joint legislative committee (Senate & House) on intergovernmental relations.  All the committee assignments relate to a cross-section of the issues confronting both the Panhandle and House District 5.  Rep. Drake has been a strong advocate for Washington County economic development over several years.

As a footnote in his presentation, Rep. Drake reported that he had been given the nickname “Dr. No” by legislative colleagues because in the last session he voted “no” more often than any representative on issues related to government growth and expansion of government roles without clear benefits to voters.

Speaking with enthusiasm, Rep. Drake reported on the passage of his first successful bill that was an amendment to the Baker Act that he co-sponsored with State Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville).  The amendment became necessary after the untimely death of a law enforcement officer in July 2008.  With the amendment, law enforcement agencies and receiving facilities are required to development a memorandum of understanding stipulating how Baker Act patients are transported, secured and evaluated so there is a chain of custody and potentially dangerous people are not released without being fully processed and evaluated.

Representative Brad Drake can be contacted through www.braddrake.org or 850-419-1300, or brad@braddrake.org.

 

Long-time Kiwanis member John Dougherty of Chipley was recognized by the Kiwanis Foundation of Florida as a “Sustaining Donor”.  The Florida Kiwanis Foundation is focused on providing youth leadership and development programs that enhance the leadership opportunities available through all levels of Kiwanis youth programs from elementary school, middle school, high school, and college level.