THE FLORIDA SENATE
COMMITTEES:

Tallahassee. Florida 32399-1100 Appropriations
Appropriations Subcommittee on the
Environment and Natural Resources
Commerce and Tourism
Environmental Preservation and Conservation
Rules

 

SENATOR JACK LATVALA
16th District

December 20, 2017

The Honorable Joe Negron, President
The Florida Senate

404 S. Monroe St., 405 Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear President Negron:

It has been my honor to serve my constituents in the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Senate for 15 of the last 23
years. I have worked hard and tried to do what I thought was in their best interests and those of the State of Florida. I
have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate.

Our country has been caught up in a movement to shine a spotlight on behavior that dishonors women. Even though
I have spent my entire career helping women advance in public service, such as the l4 current femalejudges in the
Sixth Circuit whose campaigns I ran, my political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of
sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of me. As a husband, father, and grandfather of women, I have
been steadfast in my efforts to promote them professionally, but perhaps I haven?t kept up with political correctness
in my comments as well as I should have.

I have maintained that the charges in the original complaint are fabrications and say that still today. Unfortunately,
except in the one instance where there were third party witnesses, the Special Master took the word of the accuser

over mine on every count. He also went outside the realm of the original complaint and unknown to me introduced
an entirely new issue into the process that I had no ability to challenge or rebut.

That was followed this morning by supposed leaders in the Republican Party calling for me to resign. All of this
occurs today even though we still have anonymous accusers with no opportunity for me to have the privilege our
US. Constitution affords to confront our accusers in cross examination.

But, I have had enough. If this is the process our Party and Senate leadership desires, then I have no interest in
continuing to serve with you. I, therefore, will resign my seat in the Florida Senate at midnight, January 5, 20 8.

I regret that my district will not be represented during the session but the timing has not been mine. I feel that if I
avail myself of the constitutional protections that all Americans believe we have, the session will end up

accomplishing nothing else for all other Floridians.

May God Bless us all!

tit/(M

REPLY TO:
CI 26133 US. Highway 19 North, Suite 201. Clearwater. Florida 33763 (727) 793-2797 FAX: (888) 263-7847
El 412 Senate Of?ce Building. 404 South Monroe Street. Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5016

Yours truly,

    

 

 
 

Jack Latva a

Senate's Website: 

JOE NEGRON ANITERE FLORES
President of the Senate President Pro Tempore