Sen. Brodeur says Orange County Delegation leadership rule ‘discriminates’

Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, criticized Democrats for not wanting to change a rule that he claimed “discriminates” and limits “minority access” to leadership roles for the Orange County Legislative Delegation.

Some lawmakers, including Brodeur, wanted to change the current delegation rules about who could serve as the Orange County Delegation’s chair or vice chair.

Currently, for someone to run for chair or vice chair, at least 50% of the precincts with each member’s legislative district must be within Orange County. Democrats are the most likely to serve in those leadership positions in this area.

“There’s nothing that says that I’m obligated to participate in this,” Brodeur said during the meeting. “I don’t want to participate in a kangaroo court for whom the outcomes are already predetermined. I mean, this is silly.”

Brodeur then walked out of the meeting and was followed by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Lady Lake, and Rep. Doug Bankson, R-Apopka.

“It absolutely discriminates and limits minority access to leadership roles. That is something that I think everybody on this Dias has campaigned on,” Brodeur said during the meeting. “We want minority access for leadership unless it’s in this delegation meeting.”

“They continue to double down on the fact that discrimination and disenfranchisement is okay, and it’s not okay, even against the white male Republican,” Brodeur told Florida’s Voice after the meeting.

Before walking out, Bankson said the move was an “unjust elimination of people who have voters who live in this district.”

During the meeting, Baxley said each lawmaker part of the delegation is “rightfully entitled” to participate as a leader.

“I have serious questions about what you’re doing to anybody’s authority after they’ve been elected publicly to serve,” Baxley said.

The lawmakers still at the meeting voted to keep the leadership rules the same Wednesday.

After Brodeur left the meeting, Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, the current chair, said her role is “not a glamorous position, nor is that a position that really comes with any positional power.”

“The attempt to paint this role as something other than facilitating a meeting is very disappointing,” Eskamani said.

“This delegation is meant to operate in a bipartisan way and it’s not based on party. It’s based on a 50% threshold,” Eskamani continued.

Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, said during discussion that he has been part of the minority in Tallahassee for 12 years.

“How many of our bills are being heard?” Torres asked when referencing Tallahassee.

“So when I hear minority representation or fairness, well guess what, now you know how I feel. Now you know how we feel,” Torres said. “I don’t want to take it out on anybody. I have no personal grudges, but I feel that when we have control, we need to use it fairly and justly.”