First Amendment Pete Weitzel Award Winners

Weitzel Award

1995: Peter Rudy Wallace, Speaker, Florida House of Representatives

1996:  Jim Scott, President, The Florida Senate

1997: Toni Jennings, President, The Florida Senate

1998: Gerald Kogan, Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court

1999: Bob Butterworth, Florida Attorney General

2000: Toni Jennings, President, The Florida Senate

2001: Locke Burt, The Florida Senate

2002: Fredrick C. Brummer, Florida House of Representatives

2003: John Carassas, Florida House of Representatives

2004:Doug Wiles, Chair, House Democratic Caucus, Florida House of Representatives

2005: Charlie Crist, Florida Attorney General

2006: Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, President Emeritus and Professor, FSU College of Law

2007: Charlie Crist, Florida Governor

2008: Dan Gelber, Florida House of Representatives

2009: Pat Gleason, Executive Office of the Governor

2010: Paula Dockery, The Florida Senate

2011: Sanford City Commission and Lake Helen City Commission

2012: Mike Fasano, The Florida Senate

2013: Joe Negron, The Florida Senate

2014: George Gabel, Holland & Knight

2015: Barbara Lemley, Citizen Activist, and Stew Lilker, Publisher, Columbia County Observer

2016: Scott Ellis, Brevard County Clerk of Court

2017: Fane Lozman, Citizen Activist

2018: Craig Waters, Director, Public Information Office, Florida Supreme Court

2022: Craig Waters, Director, Public Information Office, Florida Supreme Court

2023: James W. Schwartzel, President of Sun Broadcasting

2024: William "Bill" Bunkley, Host of "Bill Bunkley Show" WTBN-AM

2024: Stephana Ferrell, President of the Florida Freedom to Read Project