State Rep. Marlene O’Toole told a group of Villages Republicans Thursday evening she has ruled out a bid for state Senate after she leaves the state House in 2017.
“I’m coming home,” she told The Villages Republican Club of Sumter County in their monthly meeting at Savannah Center.
That doesn’t mean she plans to coast through her final two-year term in the state House. O’Toole told the group she’d like to land a seat on the Appropriations Committee and have more say over the state’s $77 billion budget.
That isn’t a criticism of the way Gov. Rick Scott has handled the budget, she said.
“He takes those red pens, you know the type you buy at the Dollar Store? And he goes through the budget line by line,” she said.
She added the governor has done a “phenomenal job” with the budget.
But as she won’t be seeking higher office and will be leaving the state House, O’Toole said she would be in a unique position if chosen for the Appropriations Committee.
“I won’t owe anybody anything,” said the Republican from The Villages who has already won another term as no one filed to run against her in either the primary or general election.
Also during her speech:
• She talked about being a first-time legislator under then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democrat and Scott’s presumed opponent in November. “He’s not a bad man,” she said of Crist. “But he’s not good for Florida.”
• She reminded those attending the meeting that Florida now has three tax holidays. In addition to tax holidays for school and hurricane supplies, there is also a tax holiday for computer purchases.
• She voiced her disapproval for Amendment 2 which would allow medical marijuana to be sold in Florida.
