Senator Larcenia Bullard who passed away yesterday was always a pleasant figure and someone whose easygoing personality allowed figures of all political persuasions and both parties to work well with her.

During Bullard’s House tenure she worked well with the Democratic Leadership, handling several pieces of legislation that passed. When my mother was the Legislative Chair of Florida PTA she worked with Bullard on several education bills shepherded through by the House leadership. She worked hard for her constituents who had been ravaged by Hurricane Andrew.

When the Republicans captured the House in the 1996 election, Bullard voted more frequently with the GOP than she had before but typically was outspoken on some key issues and continued to work very hard for his constituency. Her farewell speech to the House in 2000 was one of my great memories of that final week of the session. Term limits were kicking in and Rep. Bullard’s speech was classic show, filled with humor, memories of other members and discussions with her constituents.

In 2002, Bullard ran in an intense five-way Democratic Primary for State Senator. In that race, I supported and worked with former Rep. John Cosgrove, who has also since sadly passed on during a trip to Africa in 2006. The race ultimately came down to Bullard’s relationship with her former House constituents and her ability to pick up some votes outside her former district. With four former House members running in addition to a popular University of Miami law professor, the race came down to expanding votes beyond your base. Cosgrove and Ron Saunders did not do this as well as Bullard did and she was deserving of election.

Two years later, she faced Saunders again, this time in a three way race. Unlike 2002, when I had worked for Cosgrove, in 2004 I actively backed Bullard. Her relatively decisive victory owed itself to her growing ability to connect with Democratic Primary votes regardless of income level, race or neighborhood they resided in. Despite Saunders  always strong performance in the Keys, Bullard was able to pick up votes across the rest of the district to prevail.

After 2004, Bullard settled into a pattern in the legislature. Her voting record while  somewhat erratic was always good on issues where  Democrats needed her,  if  they’d prove decisive. Her personality and openness were always appreciated. She will be missed but her legacy lives on in her son Dwight, one of the best young progressive Senators in Florida.