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    Jack Latvala

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    Jack Latvala
    Image of Jack Latvala

    Republican Party

    Prior offices
    Florida State Senate District 19
    Florida State Senate District 16
    Florida State Senate District 20
    Personal
    Profession
    Business owner
    Contact

    Personal website

    Jack Latvala (b. November 3, 1951) is a former Republican member of the Florida State Senate, representing District 16 from 2016 to 2018. He previously served in the state House from 2010 to 2016 and from 1994 to 2002.

    Latvala was removed from his position as chairman of the Appropriations Committee in November 2017 due to sexual misconduct allegations. He later announced his resignation from the state Senate on December 20, 2017, effective January 5, 2018. To read more, click here. Latvala would have been ineligible to run for re-election in 2018 to the Florida State Senate because of term limits.[1]

    Biography[edit]

    Latvala's professional experience includes operating a printing company in Largo.

    Committee assignments[edit]

    2017 legislative session[edit]

    Latvala was removed from his position as chairman of the Appropriations Committee in November 2017 due to sexual misconduct allegations. To read more click here.

    At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
    Florida committee assignments, 2017
    • Appropriations, Chair
    • Commerce and Tourism
    • Environmental Preservation and Conservation
    • Rules
    • Joint Legislative Budget Commission, Chair

    2015 legislative session[edit]

    At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Latvala served on the following committees:

    2013-2014[edit]

    At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Latvala served on the following committees:

    2011-2012[edit]

    In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Latvala served on the following committees:

    Campaign themes[edit]

    2010[edit]

    Latvala's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[2]

    • "Creating a strong and resilient economy by reducing the burden of taxes on Florida’s business and families, improving Florida’s business climate to promote economic development, and reforming Florida’s welfare system."
    • "Protecting citizens and businesses by cracking down on violent crimes and criminals."
    • "Helping Florida’s consumers by enacting tough consumer protection laws and lowering the costs for healthcare and prescription drugs."
    • "Championing efforts to protect Florida’s ecological treasures and safeguard the state’s environmental future."
    • "Supporting excellence in education by meeting the needs of our school children. Sufficiently funding Florida’s public school system, enforcing accountability in education, and providing opportunities and resources to children and families who need additional support to succeed."

    [edit]

    The following table lists bills sponsored by this legislator. Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills sponsored by this person, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


    Elections[edit]

    2016[edit]

    See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2016

    Elections for the Florida State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 24, 2016.

    Incumbent Jack Latvala ran unopposed in the Florida State Senate District 16 general election.[3][4]
    Florida State Senate, District 16 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate
        Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jack Latvala Incumbent (unopposed)
    Source: Florida Division of Elections


    Incumbent Jack Latvala ran unopposed in the Florida State Senate District 16 Republican primary.[5][6]
    Florida State Senate, District 16 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate
        Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jack Latvala Incumbent (unopposed)

    2014[edit]

    See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2014

    Elections for the Florida State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 20, 2014. Incumbent Jack Latvala defeated Zahid Roy in the Republican primary and defeated Tony Caso (L) in the general election.[7][8]

    Florida State Senate, District 20 General Election, 2014
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJack Latvala Incumbent 71.6% 120,277
         Libertarian Tony Caso 28.4% 47,652
    Total Votes 167,929
    Florida State Senate, District 20 Republican Primary, 2014
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJack Latvala Incumbent 87.2% 31,836
    Zahid Roy 12.8% 4,672
    Total Votes 36,508

    2012[edit]

    See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2012

    Latvala won re-election in the 2012 election for Florida State Senate District 20. Latvala defeated Zahid Roy in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012 and defeated Ashley M. Rhodes-Courter (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10]

    Florida State Senate, District 20, General Election, 2012
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJack Latvala Incumbent 57.8% 127,927
         Democratic Ashley M. Rhodes-Courter 42.2% 93,296
    Total Votes 221,223
    Florida State Senate, District 20 Republican Primary, 2012
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJack Latvala Incumbent 85.7% 33,147
    Zahid Roy 14.3% 5,517
    Total Votes 38,664

    2010[edit]

    See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2010

    Latvala did not have any opposition in the August 24 primary. He defeated Nina Hayden (D) in the November 2 general election.[11]

    Florida State Senate, District 16
    2010 General election results
    Candidates Votes Percent
    Green check mark transparent.png Jack Latvala (R) 83,396 63.98%
    Nina Hayden (D) 46,942 36.02%

    Campaign donors[edit]

    BP-Initials-UPDATED.png The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


    Jack Latvala campaign contribution history
    Year Office Result Contributions
    2016 Florida State Senate, District 16 Won $545,899
    2014 Florida State Senate, District 20 Won $455,422
    2012 Florida State Senate, District 20 Won $604,840
    2010 Florida State Senate, District 16 Won $813,427
    2000 Florida State Senate, District 19 Won $398,523
    Grand total raised $2,818,111
    Source: [[12] Follow the Money]

    2016[edit]

    Latvala won re-election to the Florida State Senate in 2016. During that election cycle, Latvala raised a total of $545,899.
    Florida State Senate 2016 election - campaign contributions
    Top contributors to Jack Latvala's campaign in 2016
    Walt Disney$4,000
    Florida Cable Telecommunications Association$3,500
    Florida Hospital Association$3,000
    Hospital Corp Of America$3,000
    Florida Health Care Association$3,000
    Total raised in 2016$545,899
    Source: Follow the Money

    2014[edit]

    Latvala won re-election to the Florida State Senate in 2014. During that election cycle, Latvala raised a total of $455,422.

    2012[edit]

    Latvala won re-election to the Florida State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Latvala raised a total of $604,840.

    2010[edit]

    Latvala won election to the Florida State Senate in 2010. During that election cycle, Latvala raised a total of $813,427.

    2000[edit]

    Latvala won re-election to the Florida State Senate in 2000. During that election cycle, Latvala raised a total of $398,523.

    Scorecards[edit]

    See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Florida

    A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

    Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

    Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Florida scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.




    2017

    In 2017, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 7 through May 8. There was also a special session from June 7 to June 9.

    Legislators are scored on their stances on economic issues.
    Legislators are scored on their stance on public records access as it relates to Florida's "Sunshine Law"
    Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
    Legislators are scored on their stances on healthcare related issues.
    Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


    2016


    2015


    2014


    2013

    Noteworthy events[edit]

    Resignation following sexual misconduct allegations (2017)[edit]

    See also: Sexual assault and harassment in American politics (2017-2018)

    Latvala announced his resignation from the Florida State Senate on December 20, with his effective resignation date on January 5, 2018. In his resignation statement, Latvala denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him and said that he disapproved of the process used in his investigation.[13] State Senate President Joe Negron (R) ordered an investigation into claims of sexual harassment against Latvala on November 3, 2017. The claims came from a Politico report where six women affiliated with the state Capitol said Latvala had either touched them inappropriately or verbally harassed them.[14] Latvala denied the claims and said they were made to harm his 2018 gubernatorial bid.[15]

    On November 29, Republican Senate staffer Rachel Perrin Rogers revealed that she had filed the confidential complaint accusing Latvala of sexual harassment and that she was one of the six women interviewed for the Nov. 3 Politico report. She said she revealed her identity because Latvala had already publicly suggested that she was one of his accusers. On November 19, Latvala apparently referred to Perrin Rogers in an interview when he said that one of his accusers had a husband who was a political consultant working for one of his gubernatorial opponents. At the time of the allegation, Perrin Rogers was married to Republican political consultant Brian Hughes. According to Politico, Hughes was not openly working for a gubernatorial campaign at the time Perrin Rogers revealed her identity.[16]

    Also on December 5, state Sen. Lauren Book (D) filed a formal complaint alleging that Latvala broke Senate rules in his response to the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Specifically, Book alleged that Latvala broke two rules: conduct unbecoming of a senator and the use of undue influence. The complaint said, "We simply must stop the continued degradation of our institution and the destruction of the life of a woman who lawfully and rightfully filed her complaint."[17]

    On December 19, an independent investigation by retired Judge Ronald Swanson suggested that criminal charges could be filed against Latvala for allegedly sexually harassing Perrin Rogers and asking a lobbyist for sexual favors in return for supporting her legislation. The report identified four findings of probable cause that involved seven incidents between 2013 and 2017 where Perrin Rogers was allegedly groped or subjected to inappropriate contact by Latvala. The unnamed former lobbyist was the seventh woman to come forward alleging that Latvala had engaged in sexual misconduct. She said that she and Latvala had had an intimate relationship since 1995, and, from 2015 to 2017, she was repeatedly groped by Latvala when she went into his office. She said her experiences with Latvala caused her to leave the lobbying profession.[18] Another independent report compiled by Gail Golman Holtzman was released on December 20. It contained testimony from women who said that Latvala attempted to touch them without their consent in exchange for legislative favors.

    Personal[edit]

    Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
    Latvala and his wife, Susan Richardson, have four children.

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

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    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Jack Latvala resigns from the Florida Senate," December 20, 2017
    2. ↑ Jack Latvala Campaign Website, "Issues," accessed April 24, 2014
    3. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate listing for 2016 general election," accessed September 12, 2016
    4. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2016
    5. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed July 1, 2016
    6. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed September 22, 2016
    7. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "2014 Florida Election Watch - Multi-County or District Offices," accessed September 3, 2014
    8. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election," accessed June 23, 2014
    9. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed April 15, 2012
    10. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official Primary Results," accessed December 18, 2014
    11. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "November 2, 2010, Election Results," November 2, 2010
    12. ↑ followthemoney.org, "Latvala, Jack," accessed May 24, 2013
    13. ↑ Miami-Herald, "State Sen. Jack Latvala quits in face of corruption investigation, possible expulsion," December 20, 2017
    14. ↑ Politico, "Six women accuse Florida Senate budget chair Latvala of groping, sexual harassment," November 3, 2017
    15. ↑ Politico, "Top Senate investigator recuses herself from probe of Latvala sex harassment case," November 4, 2017
    16. ↑ Politico, "Senate staffer who accused Latvala of sexual harassment, groping goes public," November 29, 2017
    17. ↑ Politico, "Book slaps Latvala with complaint for ‘scorched earth’ tactics against sexual harassment accuser," December 5, 2017
    18. ↑ Politico, "Investigator recommends criminal probe of Latvala for sexual harassment, sexual ‘quid pro quo’," December 19, 2017
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Thad Altman (R)     		Florida State Senate, District 16
    2016-2018     		Succeeded by
    Ed Hooper (R)
    Preceded by
    Alan Hays (R)     		Florida Senate District 20
    2012–2016     		Succeeded by
    Tom Lee (R)
    Preceded by
    Charlie Justice     		Florida Senate District 16
    2010–2012     		Succeeded by
    Thad Altman
    Preceded by
    -     		Florida Senate District 19
    1994-2002     		Succeeded by
    -


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