Florida state Sen. Frank Artiles resigns over fury of barroom insults

TALLAHASSEE — A state senator from Miami under fire for days after hurling insults and racist comments resigned Friday in a dramatic end to controversy over his behavior in a private Tallahassee Club.

GOP Sen. Frank Artiles sent a letter to Senate President Joe Negron, a Republican from Stuart, Fla., announcing his resignation, saying he was doing so to protect his family and the integrity of the legislative chamber.

"My actions and my presence in government is now a distraction to my colleagues, the legislative process, and the citizens of our great state," Artiles wrote. "I am responsible and I am accountable and effective immediately, I am resigning from the Florida State Senate."

Gov. Rick Scott, also a Republican, responded quickly to Artiles resignation while visiting brush fires threatening Golden Gate Estates neighborhood in Naples, Fla.

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"If he worked for me, I would have fired him," Scott said of Artiles. "It's disgusting. If somebody does that stuff, you fire him immediately."

Black lawmakers from the House and Senate called for Artiles' expulsion after his Monday night tirade against state Sens. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville and Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale, both Democrats. Aritles called Gibson a pejorative of female dog and a "girl," and referred to some of his fellow Republicans using the N-word.

"You shouldn't talk derogatorily about people like that. There should not be any racist comment," Scott said. "I talked to Senator Gibson right after I heard about it, and said I'm sorry that anyone would talk to her like that. She's a wonderful person. But nobody should be talked to like that."

State law requires Scott to schedule a special election to fill Artiles' seat, Negron spokeswoman Katie Betta said. Until that happens, Artiles' staff will remain in place to serve constituents within Senate District 40, which includes Miami zoo.

Artiles apologized Wednesday on the Senate floor for the comments he made from the bar inside the private Governors Club. But that did not settle any outrage.

Later that day, Thurston filed a formal complaint against Artiles with Negron, spurring a chamber investigation that was to conclude Tuesday.

Negron initially had said Artiles' apology settled the matter and his constituents would decide the politician's fate. Negron later stripped Artiles of his chairmanship of the state Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities.

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On Friday, Negron said Artiles made the right decision to resign.

"As Senator Artiles has noted, he holds himself responsible and accountable for his actions and comments," Negron said in a statement. “Despite the events of the last week, Senator Artiles has a long and proud record of public service.

"We all owe him a debt of gratitude for serving our country in the United States Marine Corps, where he fought for our freedom in the global war on terror," Negron said.

Thurston withdrew his complaint Friday against Artiles in response to his resignation. He wrote in a statement that while he respected Artiles' tough decision, he was proud of the lawmakers who stood to condemn him.

“The actions of this Senate, and those of the multitude of Floridians who stood up in objection to the events of this week are to be lauded," Thurston said. "They underscored the critical lesson that words can be painful, they can be hurtful and they can have consequences.”

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who is in line to take over as Florida Senate president, praised Artiles' announcement.

"He made the right decision and in doing so put the interest of the Senate above those of his own," Galvano said.

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens said Artiles made a right and honorable decision.

"I take no pleasure in these unfortunate events," Braynon wrote. "But I urge that we learn from them. In our communities, our state, and our country, there should be a message of hope, of tolerance, of unity. We cannot afford the high cost words of divisiveness and cruelty leave in their wake.

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“I wish Senator Artiles the best, and I hope that, upon reflection, he finds consolation in knowing that his actions, today, show the contrition demanded, and the Senate was owed," Braynon said.

Artiles first was elected to the House in 2010 and served there until 2016 when he won his Senate seat against Democratic incumbent Dwight Bullard.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes, said Friday that Artiles' resignation proved his devotion to the state.

“I sincerely hope that as Frank seeks forgiveness and absolution from those hurt by his words, he will be met with forgiveness and a second chance," Corcoran said.

Contributing: Joseph Cranney, Naples (Fla.) Daily News. Follow Arek Sarkissian on Twitter: @ArekSarkissian