Latvala Loses Chair During Senate Probe

TALLAHASSEE (970 WFLA) -- Clearwater State Senator Jack Latvala  has lost the chairmanship of the powerful budget committee while he's investigated for allegations of sexual harassment and assault. 

He denies it, but Politico Florida says half a dozen women who work in the capitol say Latvala touched them without their consent. Latvala insists he'll fight the accusations. 

Latvala's rival for the Republican nomination for governor, agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam, say s he's not gloating about his competitor's troubles. "That's not the way I want the race to go. I'm not excited about it. I feel terrible," Putnam said. He also told Newsradio 970 WFLA's AM Tampa Bay the focus should be on the alleged victims. 

National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane says the Florida legislature has a long history of this sort of behavior. She says almost every woman who works with the legislature has been harassed in one way or another.

"When I was a young lobbyist, I was approached by a representative, and I told him in no uncertain terms I do not lobby horizontally," DeVane said. 

DeVane has been lobbying the legislature on women's issues since the 70's and she hoping this latest scandal will finally change the culture in the state.



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