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"I intend to be more than just a Polk County senator," says Paula Dockery, who announced her candidacy Wednesday. She'll represent five counties if elected.
By DAN DeWITT
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2002
LAKELAND -- Paula Dockery, a state representative from Lakeland, announced her candidacy for the state Senate on Wednesday -- making it likely that Hernando County residents will be represented by an out-of-county senator for the first time in a decade.
Dockery is running for District 15, which includes portions of Hernando, Lake, Osceola, Polk and Sumter counties. The district was created when lines were redrawn during this year's Legislative session.
About 60 percent of the district's population lives in Polk, and Lakeland is by far its largest city. Dockery, a Republican who has served three terms in the House of Representatives, was mentioned as the front-runner even before the district lines were finalized.
"I guess I'm going to have to come up there and meet people and persuade them that I will actively represent their issues," said Dockery, 40.
"I intend to be more than just a Polk County senator."
Hernando has many issues in common with Polk, as well as with other counties in her district, and her interests are a good match for theirs, she said. All the counties still have substantial rural areas, but all are developing rapidly. She has been an advocate for agriculture, as well as for responsible water use and development.
Dockery, who has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida, has served as chairwoman of the House Environmental Protection Committee. She was named Legislator of the Year last year by Audubon of Florida.
Dockery may be best know for pushing the idea of a high-speed rail line in Florida. Her husband, businessman C.C. "Doc" Dockery, funded the campaign that persuaded Florida voters in 2000 to pass a referendum that required lawmakers to build the train. Paula Dockery has been criticized for exposing herself to a potential conflict of interest by backing the effort in the Legislature -- a charge she disputes.
District 15 extends nearly to Deltona Boulevard in Spring Hill and slightly farther east in the northern part of the county. Western Hernando is included in District 11, which also includes western Citrus, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
The senator from that district will probably come from either Pasco or Pinellas. State Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, also has been mentioned as a likely candidate.