One in a series of profiles on state representatives and senators leading to the opening of the legislative session Jan. 22.
Steve Wise is the state senator for District 6. He served in the House from 1988-2000. He was elected to the Senate last September.
WHAT WAS YOUR ORIGINAL INTEREST IN POLITICS?
“In the early 1970s I had a grant to go to Washington and work with Congressman [Charles] Bennett. Senator Ed Gurney and I worked with the agencies for 10 weeks. I was employed by Florida Community College at the time and I just kind of got the bug. I said, if there’s ever an opportunity I would run for office.”
DO YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO?
“Oh yes, it’s more fun than I can stand. I think it’s an opportunity to be a servant to people. I really enjoy doing the case work and helping people that are getting the short end of the stick with the bureaucratic structure. They can’t get through, they can’t get something done. I think it’s a pleasure to that kind of thing and I also like the public policy stuff.”
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT IN THIS YEAR’S SESSION?
“I wasn’t in last year’s session, but I was in it 12 years before that. I think the issue this time is reapportionment, which is really very, very difficult. The other piece is going to be dealing with taxes and what the president and the Senate want to do with taxes. That’s going to be difficult.
DO YOU THINK THE MOOD WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE PAST?
“No. What’s really interesting is, it’s always the same. At the end, we are always dealing with the same issues.”
WHAT IS JACKSONVILLE’S SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE?
“I think it’s always education because that’s one of the main staples that state government has deal with; education, it’s funding and the policies dealing with education. I think it’s going to continue to be that way.”
IS JACKSONVILLE A TOUGH SELL IN TALLAHASSEE?
“No. I think the thing about Jacksonville that makes it so much easier is that it’s one government. You have to just deal with one thing. I can’t imagine being down in Miami and dealing with 35 or 40 municipalities, mayors and city councils. It just has to be a nightmare. This is a super conservative area and I just love it.”
WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET AWAY FROM WORK AND POLITICS?
“I’ve always been a type-A personality and, basically, I work and I play golf.”
RESIDES
Wise lives in Orange Park with his wife Kathy Beeman and children Kelly Lang and Tara Thompson.
ARRIVED IN FLORIDA
Wise was born Dec. 11, 1941 in Canton, Ohio. He moved to Florida in 1970.
OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE
State Job Training Coordinating Council, 1988-95; Jacksonville Landmarks Commission, 1985-87; Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Handicapped Concerns, 1984.
EDUCATION
Wise has a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College; a master’s degree in education from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D in education from the University of Alabama.
COMMITTEE DUTIES
Agricultural and Consumer Services, Children and Families, Criminal Justice, Judiciary.
— by Mike Sharkey