In between pushing for a cap on state government spending (good boy!) and trying to block a lawsuit by parents who believe the state is not adequately funding our public schools (bad boy!), Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos has time to promote his doctor wife’s weekly write-up (very good boy!).
“Check out my wife’s weekly column discussing the treatments & myths surrounding Varicose veins,” the Senator (Rep., District 26, Merritt Island) tweeted on Thursday Sept. 27. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a board certified family practice physician, has a weekly piece in Florida Today, Your Health With Dr. Stephanie.
“As a primary care physician, I have dedicated my life’s work to helping others stay healthy by empowering them with knowledge,” Dr. Stephanie writes in her thumbnail bio.
We know she has at least one avid fan, because @MikeHaridopolos promotes her all the time.
“Chk out my wife’s weekly column discussing tell-tale signs that you might be @ a higher risk to develop cancer,” he posted last week. “Check out my wife’s weekly column -This week’s column discusses dangerous type of reflux: LPR,” he wrote earlier this month. He’s promoted her takes on whooping cough, heart disease, migraines, bioidentical hormone therapy and, because that’s not weird enough, armadillos and leprosy. Really.
“Check out my wife’s weekly column. This week’s column discusses armadillos transmitting leprosy to humans,” the Senate President tweeted last month.
It’s a two-way street: @Dr_Haridopolos — who chaired a breast cancer walk this summer and is an advocate of domestic violence victims as well as health and fitness — often tweets about her husband’s efforts, Republican friends and GOP issues, too.
“Great seeing Connie Mack on his bus tour in Brevard !!! Amazing energy and speech,” she wrote on Monday. “God protect our friend American Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and his family,” she tweeted earlier this month, tagging her hubby. And, in June, she exclaimed: “Congratulations Connie Mack on Gov Jeb Bush‘s endorsement So excited for you!!!”
She also tweeted, as did the Senate President, from the Republican National Convention last month in Tampa.
“Honored to be at RNC convention in CSPAN biz watching Ryan #sayfie #RNC,” Dr. Stephanie wrote, using hashtags y todo like a pro.
Well, maybe that is because she is not just a physician but a potential new political dynasty for the Republican Party of Florida. Back in April, Tallahassee was abuzz with talk that Dr. Steph could possibly challenge Sen. Thad Altman (Dem., Melbourne), though she has brushed it off. And, last year, GOP leaders reportedly asked the good doctor to run for the seat her husband was leaving due to term limits, but nothing came of that either, according to the Sunshine State News.
Well, something maybe. Perhaps a stepping stone? Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Dr. Haridopolos in April to the newly created statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns.
The Sunshine State story says that the missus’ weekly column, which often comes with a web video and activism with charitable groups and crime victims gives her good name recognition. Guess they don’t know about her twitter proficiency. And helloooo? Her name is Haridopolos, like the Senate President. That’s gotta help, too.
Still, Ladra likes this kind of quid pro quo on twitter and wonders if any of their three kids — Alexis, Hayden and Reagan Brooke (yes, they named one of his children after the former prez) — have their own handles.
After all, the family that tweets together, stays together.