Ross Feted as House Term Nears End
Officials ranging from the mayor of Lakeland to the speaker of the Florida House praised Rep. Dennis Ross for his six years in the Legislature and asked him to run again in the future.
Ross assured them he would.
More than 120 people turned out for a special farewell to the 46-year-old Lakeland legislator hosted at the Lone Palm Golf Club by the Lakeland Republican Club.
Ross will not seek re-election to his Florida House District 63 seat. According to state election law his term will end at midnight on Election Day, Nov. 7. But with the 2006 legislative session over he will have little to do except answer constituent questions and problems.
Lakeland Mayor Buddy Fletcher read a proclamation making Wednesday "Dennis Ross Day" in Lakeland. Officials praised Ross for his six years of work rewriting the worker compensation laws, keeping the high-speed rail from being killed and this session hammering out a controversial property insurance bill that passed just minutes before the 2006 session ended.
"Dennis took more arrows and more bullets for me on this issue than any other legislator," Florida Speaker of the House Allan Bense told the audience.
"Dennis is a leader with honesty and dedication. He is loyal to the party, loyal to you folks and it just doesn't get any better than that," Bense said.
Florida House members are restricted to eight years -- four two-year terms -- and Ross will have served only six years when his term ends. But he had promised former City Commissioner Seth McKeel that he would not run for the final term because at the time Ross was attempting to run for statewide office, which he later abandoned.
Ross and those in attendance at the farewell agreed it won't be his last race.
"There is a difference between a politician and a statesman and Dennis is a statesman," said his colleague, Rep. John Stargel, R-Lakeland. "He has taken those bullets for the rest of us. He knows how to keep his word and he is a friend; a true leader."
Ron Clark, representing the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, praised Ross for what he said was the legislator's balance between protecting businesses big and small and also looking out for the consumer.
"I don't think this is the last we are going to hear from Dennis Ross," Clark said. "This man, I think, could lead our country, our state -- anything he wants and Dennis, I hope you will return to future public service soon."
Several dignitaries spoke, thanking Ross for his work; and Ross even received an honorary deputy's certificate.
Ross said he preferred looking at politics with sports analogies.
"Politics is a wonderful arena and in the Legislature I gladly put my spikes on. Now it is time for the spikes to be hung up for just a while," he said. "As long as you participate and stay active, I promise that I will, too."
Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at bill.rufty@theledger.com or 863-802-7523.
