Tallahassee 2014: ‘New rule’ on residency — all politics, no bite

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The residency rule passed by both the Florida House and Senate Tuesday has been touted as both a way to tighten loopholes that allow legislators to live outside their district and a measure that was not politically motivated.

It is neither.

State lawmakers may have been all high fives and back slaps after they passed the , sponsored by Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater), doesn’t really solve the problem — which, by, the way, is bipartisan despite what the GOP will have you believe.

The rule says lawmakers will have to “produce proof” that they live in the district through some legal document. But that can be a voter’s registration, a homestead exemption, a driver’s license, proof that the legislator’s spouse and/or children live there or — get this — mail.

Really? Mail?

Doesn’t Latvala or House Speaker Will Weatherford — who called it a “great day” because now we have “standards” we didn’t before — realize lawmakers can get mail at their parents’ house? Or even a PO Box?

And of course it is politically motivated. The rule was only sought this year after WPLG Channel 10 and the Sun-Sentinel caught several legislators reportedly living outside the district they were elected in. Latvala’s main target is Sen. Maria Sachs (D- Delray Beach) — who beat a Latvala ally in 2012. But also mentioned in context as rule breakers: House Minority Leader Perry Thurston (D-Fort Lauderdale) and State Reps Joe Gibbons (D-Hallandale Beach), Jared Moskowitz (D- Coral Springs),  Ricardo Rangel (D- Kissimmee) and Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee).

Notice there aren’t any Republicans on that list? Ah… and yet skirting residency rules is not a partisan affliction that affects only our blue legislators.

In 2011, Ladra caught State Rep. Frank Artiles (R-Country Walk, now) living in his old Pinecrest home although he was elected in a different district and had told people around election day that he had moved. He eventually did — after he was embarassed that he was caught.

Last year, Ladra busted State Rep. Eddy Gonzalez (R-Hialeah), the chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation, living in the same home he always lived in, even though his neighborhood was carved out of his district and is represented by State Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr. Gonzalez didn’t move. Nobody even cared.

How come they are not in Latvala’s sights?

And, while I like the idea of a special master that would investigate complaints, how come Latvala doesn’t know this “new rule” has no real teeth?

He wasn’t satisfied with voter registration as sole proof. “I could change my voter registration to say I live in Timbuktu, but that doesn’t mean I live there,” he was quoted as saying. But the new rule does not specify how many documents a lawmaker needs to prove residency. Does that mean a single voter’s registration card would still do?

What happens if a lawmaker is separated from his or her spouse? Does he or she get a pass because his or her family still lives in the district?

What if a lawmaker’s homestead exemption is at a different address than his driver’s license or her electric bill? Which one wins?

And does this mean that Gonzalez, who is termed out in November and is looking at a Hialeah council seat (and maybe the county property appraiser’s post), has to move away from his wife and kids and into East Hialeah, the area he represents?

I wouldn’t be watching out for the movers.

  Eddy Gonzalez, Frank Artiles, Jack Latvala