Advocates regret Storms’ departure

By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, May 29, 2012.......Advocates for children, seniors and people with disabilities are reeling from Sen. Ronda Storms' announcement Friday that she'll leave the Senate two years before her term expires to run for Hillsborough Property Appraiser. 

"We are saddened by Sen. Storms’ decision," said Dana Farmer of Disability Rights Florida. "She is a spirited advocate for people with disabilities."

"This is a tragic blow for elderly citizens," said former state ombudsman Brian Lee, who worked with Storms on protections for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

"Her passion is so strong that her influence in the laws she sponsored and championed will continue for years to come," said Alan Abramowitz, director of the state Guardian ad Litem program. 

First elected in 2006, Storms, a Valrico Republican and chairwoman of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs committee, sponsored some far-reaching legislation – including this year's redesign of child protective investigations at the Department of Children and Families; tougher penalties for stalking and sexually-violent predators, and streamlined legal procedures for homeless youth. In 2010, she led the effort on the Senate side to modernize the background screening for caregivers of vulnerable Floridians.

"Sen. Storms has been a tremendous ally to all Florida's families and a much-needed voice for children in the Legislature," said DCF Sec. David Wilkins. "Few can match her passion and knowledge on the issue of child safety." 

But Storms' legacy is tied up heavily in bills that didn't pass. 

Two efforts with which she's particularly identified – the reform of assisted living facilities and changes in the law regarding the administration of psychotropic medication to children in state care – passed the Senate overwhelmingly but died without a hearing in the House.

"I couldn't get a dancing partner," Storms said at the time. 

"She has a real streak of independence about dealing with industry lobbyists," said Roy Miller, president of the Children's Campaign. "So it doesn't surprise me that she'd be able to pass legislation in the Senate and have it run into roadblocks in the House."

"Her legacy would be even stronger if the House had been able to put politics aside," said Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich, often a close ally of Storms on the Senate Children and Families committee despite their positions at opposite ends of the political spectrum on other issues. Storms was widely considered one of the most staunch social conservatives in the Senate, while Rich is one of the most liberal, and the leader of Democrats in the chamber.

"When she first came [to the Senate], we went at it on women's issues, reproductive rights and prayer in the schools," Rich recalled. "But we agreed to disagree on those and work together where our values coincided."

Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, who worked with Storms and Rich on foster care legislation, said he doesn't know if politics played a role in stymieing Storms' bills. But he points out that their joint measure to give concurrent rights to grandparents whose grandchildren are taken into state custody for parental abuse or neglect took two years to pass the House before it passed the Senate.

Storms was also known for bucking her own party's legislative leadership, Miller noted. 

"It's possible that [her bills] passed the Senate, and then Republican leadership let them die in the House rather than taking her on directly," he said. "There's lots of ways to let legislation die when you want to let it die."

Storms, who didn't respond to a request for comment, could be frustrated by the legislative process, said Rich.

"I know how frustrating it is when you're in the minority," said Rich. "I can just imagine how much more frustrating it would be when you're in the majority, you're the committee chair, and you still can't get your signature legislation through."

Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, will tap Storms' replacement as chair of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs committee after the November election. He described her as a close friend who came to the Senate when he did and called her legislative achievements "landmark."

"All of us face frustration getting 21 votes," he said, "and I think she leaves the Senate a winner."

Now, as the Legislature prepares to reconsider ALF reform and other issues Storms cares about, advocates are wondering who can take her place.

"She took on the tough human service challenges that often get shoved to the side in the legislative process," said Michael Cusick, CEO of the Florida Coalition for Children, which honored Storms as "Champion for Children" in 2012.

"We were looking forward to continued work with Sen. Storms on meaningful ALF reform and will greatly miss her presence as that effort goes forward," said Farmer of Disability Rights Florida.  "Between the terming out of Sen. Rich and the departure of Sen. Storms, it is quite a loss." 

Glorioso is "strongly considering" getting into the race for Storms' Senate seat, he said, and one reason would be to continue her advocacy for children. He'll announce his decision Wednesday.

"Putting on my military hat, no one is indispensable," said the retired colonel. "Someone leaves and someone else picks up the torch."