From Tallahassee reporter Catherine Dolinski: Former Senate President Tom Lee of Valrico was smiling and shaking hands this morning as he made his way to his front-row seat at the swearing in of – among others – Alex Sink, the Democrat who beat Lee in the Chief Financial Officer race. 

Afterward, Lee acknowledged that the day generated “a lot of mixed emotions” for him.

“I feel really good about the decade I spent up here in public service,” he said. “Not just the opportunity to represent the people, but how I went about it, what I accomplished. You know, you just reflect on the fact the we all really are just passing through. You can’t take yourself too seriously.”

Lee has not ruled out future office, but has no such ambitions at present, he said. Asked what’s immediately in his future, he said:

“Flu shot.”

Get Weekly Deals | Write a letter to the editor | Subscribe and get two weeks free | Place an Ad