I want to take this opportunity to thank the Santa Rosa County Commission and all of you who attended the delegation meeting last Wednesday. We are now one committee week and a little over a month away from the start of the 2012 Session. Your direction and input is still our most important driving force as we seek to tackle the major challenges facing our Northwest Florida communities and our state.

Among these, one of the most critical issues we are facing is redrawing the boundaries to define our congressional, house and senate districts for the next 10 years. We have heard from over 1,600 folks across the state on suggestions to help guide our proposed redistricting plan, which the Senate Reapportionment Committee published this week. You can view the full plan, a summary of the plan and the proposed maps by going to www.flsenate.gov/redistricting.

I believe we have come up with a good plan here, consistent with the laws and guidelines we are required to abide by in our state's Constitution throughout this process. We still need to take a vote next Tuesday, December 6, to define whether or not this plan will be submitted to the full Senate. In the meantime, if you have any interest in reviewing and giving us your thoughts on our proposal, you can do so through any of the below resources made available for feedback from the public:

• Calling 850-487-5757 or 855-FLA-MAPS toll free;
• Visiting the committee’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Senate-Reapportionment-Committee/253161261393976 (or search for “Florida Senate Reapportionment Committee”);
• Emailing RedistrictFlorida@flsenate.gov;
• Sending a “tweet” to @Redistrict2012;
• Posting video feedback on the committee’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/SenateRedistricting;
• Writing the committee at 103 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1100;
• Attending the December 6 meeting in person; or,
• Contacting your own senator or representative.

I am looking forward to a wonderful weekend and returning to Tallahassee next week for our last round of committee meetings before Session. As always, have you any questions or issues of concern that I can be of any help with, do not hesitate to email me directly at: Greg@gregevers.com or call my office at (850) 487-5000.

Greg