by Mary-Kate Roan
Staff Writer
When State Rep. Mike Weinstein settled into his office the day after being chosen for the Dist. 19 seat in the Florida House of Representatives, he and his assistants Gwen Carmichael and Sandy Matthews had a bit of work to do despite the “smooth transition” into their district headquarters. The office, formerly occupied by Weinstein’s predecessor Dick Kravitz, underwent a small alteration that included furniture rearranging and painting.
“It took a few days,” said Carmichael, pointing out the paintings and pictures in the office which came from her and Matthews.
Carmichael added her desk had to be moved so constituents could see her.
“It was originally behind the corner so you didn’t see anyone coming in and they couldn’t see you,” said Carmichael. “So we changed that and painted the walls a grayish white color instead of a yellow color with wallpaper with flecks of orange, gray and blue.”
Carmichael and Matthews might be part interior director with the amount of work they’ve put in with Weinstein’s office.
And this isn’t their first gig as district secretary and legislative assistant. Carmichael was State Rep. Stan Jordan’s district secretary before being hired by Weinstein, and Matthews worked for State Rep. Aaron Bean. The office still has a Duval County persona to it, but the trio is working on it.
“When I was running, I was committed to having my office in Clay County,” said Weinstein, who lives in Duval County. “I didn’t want everything (in Duval County) and Orange Park has its own personality.”
The position Weinstein now holds is his first ever as an elected official, and apparently the senior legislators have let the “freshman” know exactly where he stands on the totem pole.
“There’s a definite pecking order,” said Weinstein with a laugh about himself and the other 34 newly elected officials.
As for his Tallahassee office, he doesn’t know where that will be either, despite the new session starting Monday. He does know his committee assignments, though: State & Community Colleges & Workforce Appropriations; Criminal & Civil Justice Policy; Civil Justice & Courts Policy (where he will serve as vice chair); State & Community Colleges & Workforce Policy; and Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy.
The economy is at the top of his list to fix, and Weinstein plans on getting started quickly in what he calls “the most difficult time” for Florida.
“We can’t ask the people or businesses for more taxes,” said Weinstein. “We have to live within the budget.”
It’s a song Weinstein has been singing since his campaign.
Weinstein did add that when the economy comes back, it’ll be because of the private sector and not the government.
And though the office is still a work in progress, Carmichael says it is coming along nicely.
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