Drilling a hot topic

State Sen. Lee Constantine said he’s happy the Legislature wasn’t weighing in on off-shore drilling this session.

"That wouldn’t have been fun for the folks trying to close out the session," said Constantine, a panel member of the Winter Park Political Update on Tuesday.

Since the oil rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana, more than 200,000 gallons of crude oil a day have been gushing into the ocean. The sludge is expected to reach the Florida coastline later this week.

"If you survey Floridians today, their answer will be flip-flopped from last year," he said. "Oil drilling off Florida is going to be in a much different light moving forward."

State Rep. Dean Cannon, who made an 11th-hour push to lift the moratorium on drilling off Florida’s shore in 2009, said the investigation into why the leak happened probably won’t be completed for at least a year. Offshore drilling debates will go on even longer than that.

"Nothing is going to be happening in the next two to three years," the next speaker of the House said, adding, "We’re trying to pursue an all-energy policy — not just oil and natural gas."

Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal said the state needs to be careful not to compromise its $60 million tourism industry, and that the debate is a "go slow sort of thing."

Fair districts

Legislators also weighed in on fair district legislation, which is a citizen-led initiative designed to curtail gerrymandering that favors incumbents and political parties.

But Cannon said that while the language may sound great, it contradicts itself. The legislation would mandate "compact" districts but many cities aren’t a perfect shape. "Orlando looks like a Rorschach test," he said.

He said the "citizen-led initiative" is 90 percent funded by labor unions and trial lawyers, and it will cause litigation and reduce minority representation. That’s why, he said, lawmakers have put their own redistricting plan on the ballot in response to Amendment 5 and 6 to clarify the issues and protect minority rights.

But opponents say lawmakers are trying to protect their own self interests. Moderator Scott Maxwell, who writes the "Taking Names" column in the Orlando Sentinel, said that U.S. Rep. John Mica’s house is far from the majority of his constituents.

"I drove here this morning along Via Tuscany past John Mica’s house," he said, "and I was trying to think of what common interest it had with Flagler Beach, which is where the majority of his district is."

Segal said he supports fair districts.

"I’m a stone’s throw from three districts," he said, "and I think that’s a crime."

Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley said there are four congressional districts in Winter Park.

But Cannon and Constantine said some people like having access to three or four congress people.

Cannon warned that putting "subjective" standards into the constitution is dangerous. Constantine agreed.

He said the lawmakers’ amendment is trying to address the intent of the Fair Districts Florida amendments, without rolling over for special interest groups.

Constantine honored

At the close of the event, the Chamber honored retiring Sen. Constantine for his public service — eight years in the House of Representatives and 10 years in the Senate. After accepting a plaque, Constantine said he’s confident that young men such as Cannon and Sen. Andy Gardiner will continue the leadership in the Legislature."It’s bittersweet that I have to leave," he said.

He said the most important thing for an elected official to push for is finding and building a consensus for everyone.

"All folks have the opportunity to part of the process," he said.