SUMMER/FALL 2016 INFLUENCE | 127 … ABOUT FORGING A PERSONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE: I was blessed to have so many years under my belt. My philosophical beliefs have not changed since I was a freshman in the Florida House but my views and outlook on governing have changed. There was not a better time for me to do this. I was ready. I had a pretty good sense of what I wanted the presidency to look like. When Dan Webster was on the path to become speaker, he talked about crushing the pyramid of power and really empowering people. When I would go and talk to members about being president, that’s what I talked about. I talked about empowering them to make decisions, to set their agenda, not me. Sometimes, you’re criticized for that. You’ll have people that will come in here and say, “I want you to tell such-and-such to hear that bill.” And I wouldn’t do that. Other times, people would say, “We want you to tell such-andsuch to take a bill off the agenda.” And I would say, “I’m not doing that.” I wanted to be Senate president to empower that chair to make that decision. I’ll give you a good example: There was a group of parents that were pushing for mandatory recess in schools. I actually support that. My (Pre-K-12 Education Committee) chair John Legg didn’t. He did not believe in the policy and he did not hear the bill. He felt, and it’s legitimate, that that’s a local issue and we should allow local school districts to make that decision. Some said I should have forced him to hear that (bill). I talked to him about but ultimately it was his decision. He’s the chair. That was just my style. … ABOUT DEALING WITH GAMBLING LOBBYISTS: I enjoyed all the lobbyists, for the most part. I think the gaming boys are probably the ones that just get greedy. I think it’s funny; I (hear) all these people talk about how the gaming bill was teed up to pass … I don’t support expansion of gaming. That world, that part of it I won’t miss. I won’t miss the gaming side. Not a world I’m drawn to. I don’t have anything personal against them. It’ll be fun to watch on the sidelines. But I would meet with anybody. And there are a lot of people I’d say, “No, I’m not doing that.” Now, if you talk to these gaming guys, there was a view that I blocked the gaming bill, that it was otherwise a done deal. That’s just a complete fabrication. I don’t think the House had the votes to pass it. Maybe they did. Now, what I had indicated to the gaming boys was, “If you get a bill to my desk, I won’t block it and it will go to the floor.” The reality is, they never got a bill to my desk. They didn’t have the votes. But rarely will you find a lobbyist who will say that something is their fault. They’re not going to tell their client they dropped the ball. … ABOUT BALANCING THE POLITICAL AND THE PERSONAL: … Camille and I have been married for 18 years. Sixteen of it was as an elected official. Our life together has known this. We went from college to married to here. We just grew up in it. I was blessed in that my wife and children were able to be up here the entire session for the last two years. Leading up to be president, you’re gone a lot. You’re traveling the state, you’re raising money. I wanted my last two years for my children to be able to enjoy it. I wanted them up here. We have a ton of pictures of them being up here and being a part of it. I know there will come a point in their lives where they will wonder, “How come Daddy did this?” It puts a lot of perspective when you’re having a very important policy meeting here in the president’s office and a 6-yearold runs in. It sort of lightens it up. But it can be tough. And being from Orlando, it’s only three and a half hours. It was easy for me go home. I always feel bad for the members out of Miami. There’s no easy way to get here. But I had the flexibility where if I was free, I just said I was going home and get in my car. … But it can be tough. Our six-year-old will say, “Daddy, why do you have to go to Tallahassee?” She did that to me yesterday. (Camille) is not running for anything right now. She’s still talking about it. We’ll have to wait and see. She hasn’t committed. I still have things to do. I’m president till November, but it’s slowed down a little bit. I think I’m going to transition well. I have been very blessed to do this. And we had a great session. I’m ready to go home. The beauty of being home every day at a reasonable time will be huge. PHOTOS: Courtesy Florida Memory Project/Meredith Hill Geddings; Florida House Photographic Collection; Florida Memory Project/Bill Cotterell LEVELS OF INFLUENCE (clockwise from left): Rep. Frank Attkisson and Gardiner applaud the passing of a resolution (circa 2008); Gardiner and then-Speaker-Designate Marco Rubio, left, confer on the House floor during the 2006 Legislature; Gardiner, left, speaking with David Beckham and Mark Abbott about professional soccer in Florida (2014).
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