Debbie Mayfield talks Republican supermajority, parental rights before session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – As the 2023 regular legislative session approaches, Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, looks forward to Republicans having the supermajority in both chambers.

Florida’s Voice CEO Brendon Leslie asked Mayfield what it is like to work for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. Watch the full video here.

Mayfield said Passidomo gives direction and empowers people to “build up their confidence” in order to be good leaders in the future. As far as having the supermajority, Mayfield said it’s “indicative” of the work conservative leaders have done in the past.

“But rather than seeking the spotlight for herself, because she does not really like being in the spotlight, she just wants to see results. But she empowers everyone around her to do the best they can do and then she helps them to succeed,” Mayfield said about Passidomo.

Mayfield credited new senators that were elected in the last election cycle, including Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, who filed school choice legislation; Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami Dade, who is carrying a workforce housing proposal; and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, who filed school safety and permitless carry legislation. 

“So those are just a few examples of the conservative members that recently were elected and that she [Passidomo] has actually empowered them to take on these really big, complicated issues for this next session,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said that Gov. Ron DeSantis, Passidomo, and former senate president and current Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson are the reason Republicans have the majority.

“He [DeSantis] truly is forming Florida as a model that the rest of the nation can take a look at [….] So there is no doubt that he is the reason that we have accomplished as much as we had because he set the tone his first term,” Mayfield said.

“And that’s why we actually have the majority and supermajority alongside [….] our President Passidomo and as well as President Simpson, I mean they really set the tone these last few years and that’s why we have it,” she continued.

Florida’s Voice asked Mayfield what her take is on the stronger parental rights in education bills moving through the Senate. 

“People have to remember those children, you know, the children don’t belong to the system, they don’t belong to the federal government, they don’t belong to the state government, they belong to the parents,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said she is “continuing to fight” alongside parental rights movements.

“I’m continuing to fight alongside all of our parent rights movements to let people know that this is my child and I want to stay in their education, I want to say in their health care, I want to make sure that they are being protected in the manner in which I want them to be protected,” Mayfield said.