Republican State Sen. Benjamin Albritton held back tears during his Senate-president designation ceremony on Tuesday, showcasing some of his views and faith and what lies ahead when he becomes the next Florida Senate President in 2024-26.
“I’m a product of Florida’s heartland, a place of wide-open spaces, beautiful landscapes, gorgeous creeks and rivers, rolling sand hills and small, close-knit towns,” said Albritton, who emphasized his roots as a citrus-farming son of a Sunday school teacher.
Albritton, 55, was elected unanimously by the Republican-controlled Senate to take over the presidency of the chamber after current Sen. Kathleen Passidomo leaves her term.
In attendance were his Republican senate colleagues, Gov. Ron DeSantis, elected state Cabinet members, and luminaries of Florida politics.
The Senate-president designate was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010 and then to the Florida Senate in 2018. In his acceptance address, he stressed “faith, family, freedom, opportunity, and life” as the core values he would bring to the Senate presidency.
Representing rural communities in Charlotte, DeSot0, Polk, Lee and Hardee counties — the central and southwest part of the peninsula — Albritton indicated he would place close attention to agricultural issues during his term. The Florida citrus industry has been struggling in recent decades with hurricane damage and the emergence of citrus greening disease.
“The fact is the survival of agriculture is the survival of humanity,” Albritton said. “If you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.”
When asked by reporters after the ceremony if some Republicans thought Albritton would be too moderate for the leadership position, Albritton responded: “First thing that I would say is that kindness is not weakness,” Albritton said. “And check my voting record.”
Meanwhile, Albritton ended his speech by calling attention to the Israel-Hamas war.
“Today we are clearly facing the challenge of unrest in the world. Terrorists have launched a full-on assault against our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land,” Albritton said. “I pray for the people of Israel and that they find a sure path to victory first, then peace.”
Albritton ended his remarks by quoting 2 Samuel 23:20 – which details the exploits of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who killed many warriors as well as a lion. Impressed, King David, of the United Kingdom of Israel, placed Benaiah in charge of his bodyguard.
“Benaiah was a strong warrior for King David. We are all called to be warriors. For our families, for our communities, for our constituents and for our state,” Albritton concluded. “Let’s go chase the lions of our time.”
This article originally appeared in florida phoenix