Representative James Grant from State House District 64, is a candidate for Speaker of the House for the 2023 and 2024 sessions of the Legislature. Having served in the State House since 2010 however, this would mean that Grant would be serving in the office well past the 8 year term limit proscribed in our state Constitution for this position. Because of a loophole in the language of the term limits amendment, Grant’s contention is that he will still be eligible for office beyond the 2018 legislative session.

Between 2014 and 2015 the election for district 64 came under controversy that left the seat temporarily vacated and Grant out of office for a total of 155 days. During this time no one else occupied this office and Grant was eventually reinstated. Therefore, Grant did serve in the office for 575 of the 730 days included in the 2014 – 2015 term of office for this position. Grant’s claim now is that, because the office was temporarily vacated due to an election process irregularity, the clock should start over on his time in office and he should be allowed to serve beyond the eight year term limit.

“In 1992, 77 percent of Florida voters told the legislature that they felt eight years was enough time to serve. Representative Grant is trying to circumvent the will of the voters and remain in office for nearly double that time, 14 years to be exact,” White said.

“I’m proud to stand with U.S. Term Limits in support of their efforts to prevent what would be an egregious violation of Florida’s term limits provisions in our Florida Constitution,” White said.