It’s been no secret throughout the years that Jack Latvala was not a nice guy. As in the loudest bully in the room. That, alas, was not nearly enough to prevent his ascent into the upper ranks of legislative power in the Sunshine State. Tallahassee, alas, can be bully friendly. And worse.
Latvala, as it’s been well-chronicled, will resign, effective Jan. 5, as a result of sexual-groping charges. There’s also a criminal investigation. But he did not go, unsurprisingly, quietly or with a smidgen of class. Al Franken he’s not. He had to put out a statement that was insultingly disingenuous. “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate,” he wrote, as if he had been charged with intentional dishonor. “My political adversaries have latched onto this (national #MeToo movement) effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of me.”
Here’s what he should have said:
“I apologize. And I apologize for not having apologized sooner.
“I’ve gotten by as a bombastic ‘moderate’ all these years when, in fact, I’ve also been an arrogant, obnoxious sleaze. I’ve abused my powers. Would that it were only hardball, old-school politics, not salacious quid pro quos of entitlement. I apologize to those I’ve imposed myself on, and I apologize to my constituents for leaving them without direct senatorial representation in the upcoming legislative session. I would apologize to my family–but they were also enablers.
“This is not some #MeToo conspiracy. This is my sleazy MO catching up with me. This is karma payback. I’m getting what I deserve, and I’ve deserved it for some time. I apologize.”
All that being said, however, Jack Latvala should still run for governor. Hear me out.
It would be a graphic reminder to the electorate about how careful it has to be. Recall Trump flunky Rick Scott. It would also be a big help to the Democratic candidate to have a Republican primary tarnished by the guilt of association.
Not fair? Of course it isn’t. Neither is a Gov. Corcoran or Gov. Putnam after Gov. Scott.