Senate President Don Gaetz forcefully pledged that the Legislature will take action to avoid election embarrassment in two years, while also promising to reach out to Democrats and usher in a new era of more ethical conduct as he leads the Senate the next two years.
Gaetz, a Republican from Niceville, was sworn in Tuesday as the 85th president of the state Senate as the Legislature held a short organizational session to admit new members elected earlier this month, and formally choose its leaders, though they've been known for months.
Gaetz already had signaled that ethics improvements would be a top priority for him, but on Tuesday in brief opening remarks he also told his colleagues that they must do something about the elections process that broke down in some places on election night.
"Floridians should never again have to stand in lines for six and seven hours to vote," Gaetz said, drawing standing applause from members.