Representative Scott Randolph, who has supported a number of pro-gay measures in his tenure, has announced that he is not running for re-election to his final term in the Florida House. Randolph has announced that is endorsing Linda Stewart as the Democratic candidate in House District 47.
â┚¬Å”Linda will be not only a strong candidate but she'll be someone who will take on the battles against the radical right wing agenda in Tallahassee,â┚¬Â Randolph said.
His 3rd 2-year term ends midnight on Election Day this November. Randolph plans to run for the statewide office of Chair of the Florida Democratic Party in January 2013.
He and his wife Susannah recently welcomed their first child. Randolph said he doesn't want to have to be campaigning and knocking on doors every night of the week, â┚¬Å”I want to be with my child.â┚¬ÂÂ
The Democratic chair position requires a lot of travel, but Randolph said he can take his family with him.
â┚¬Å”Everyone knows when you get Scott you get Susannah as well and I hope to take that with me to my next job,â┚¬Â he said.
In terms of his record on LGBT issues, Randolph highlighted the legislative debate on repealing the state's ban on adoption by gays.
â┚¬Å”With some maneuvering to try to get some amendments heard, I think that got the [former Governor Charlie] Crist administration moving,â┚¬Â Randolph said. â┚¬Å”Legislatively, that was the big battle.â┚¬ÂÂ
Randolph also introduced the Competitive Workforce Act, prohibiting discrimination in the workplace, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; and House Bill 361 to provide Florida's LGBT community with the same protections currently afforded to individuals against unfair treatment based on sex, race, age or disability. Neither bill has made it past the legislature.
