By Dawn Krebs
dkrebs@hometownnewsol.com
FORT PIERCE -- The Fort Pierce City Commission unanimously approved a request by newly elected State Rep. Larry Lee, D-District 84, to have his main office at Fort Pierce City Hall.
"Historically, city hall has always provided an office for our local representative," said Robert Bradshaw, Fort Pierce city manager. "We'd like to continue that practice."
The office space in question is located on the first floor of city hall and has been leased to legislators for the past 10 years. It is currently being used by Tangie Jennings, the district secretary for the Florida House of Representatives. The request also needs to be approved by the state before Rep. Lee can establish an office there.
"The city of Fort Pierce is important to me, and I want to continue giving the people of District 84 the service they deserve," Rep. Lee wrote in his request to city officials.
"This will be his home office and I think that's a huge asset for us," Mr. Bradshaw said.
While in previous years the cost to the representative to lease the office has been only $10 a month, Rep. Lee agreed to pay $250 a month for the space.
"He understands about the utilities and the security," said Mr. Bradshaw. "There are other things involved, in addition to the office space itself."
Rep. Lee plans to designate the Fort Pierce office as his main office, and said his next step will be to meet with the city manager in Port St. Lucie to try to arrange a satellite office there.
"My goal is to have a north county office and a south county office," Rep. Lee said. "But everything has to be approved by the state first before I can move forward with it."
Meanwhile, Rep. Lee was recently appointed to four committees by the state Speaker of the House, Will Weatherford: the insurance and banking subcommittee; the education appropriation subcommittee; the agriculture and natural resources subcommittee and the regulatory affairs committee.
"I campaigned on making insurance changes, and I also wanted to make education one of my priorities. And agriculture is such a major part of St. Lucie County," Rep. Lee said. "I am very pleased with my appointments, and I look forward to being a voice for the residents of St. Lucie County."