When Steve Crisafulli ran for the Legislature eight years ago, he didn’t seek to become House speaker.
But other Republicans turned to Crisafulli after Speaker-in-waiting Chris Dorworth lost a re-election bid in 2012. Two years later, Crisafulli took the speaker’s gavel and, as a result, became one of the most influential elected officials in the state.
House members Thursday honored Crisafulli in a ceremony that included hanging his portrait on the wall alongside speakers going back to the early 20th Century.
Crisafulli, 44, of Merritt Island, gave an understated speech that briefly touched on a tumultuous legislative year in 2015 — but focused more on family, staff members and other lawmakers.
Crisafulli, who will end his final regular session as speaker Friday, said he had grown to embrace the job and hoped he had carried it out more as a manager of the legislative process than as a “dictator.”
He advised other members, some of whom are running for the Senate, to “check your ego at the door when you come into this chamber or the one across the hall and remember how you got here and where you come from and that the title that you carry is just that — it’s a title. It should not be abused, nor should it be underestimated, for it is an honor to carry it and to serve the people we represent.”
House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman, a Melbourne Republican who is one of Crisafulli’s top lieutenants, said he thinks the outgoing speaker will be particularly remembered for his involvement in issues such as agriculture, natural resources and education.
Crisafulli, whose family has long been in the agriculture industry, spearheaded an effort this year to pass a bill that set new water policies for the state. The bill passed early in the legislative session and was signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
“You’ve managed to lead this chamber while not dominating its members,” Workman said, addressing Crisafulli.
Workman, who noted lightheartedly that he and Crisafulli are both “Brevard County boys” who went to rival high schools, also presented the outgoing speaker with a gift of a custom long-range rifle.
“This, my friends, is a zombie killer at half a mile,” Workman said.
After holding the gun, Crisafulli drew laughs as he alluded to his daughters, Carly and Kennedy, who were sitting with his wife, Kristen.
“Girls that’s for your boyfriends,’’ he said. “At 1,000 yards, I should be able to catch them down the driveway.”