Florey's future: Family, travel, baseball, business

By Staff
Politics in his blood
Florey's great-grandfather on his mother's side was a county commissioner in Jackson County, Ala. There were times over Florey's eight years of service in Lauderdale County when he wondered if his great-grandaddy had days like this.'
He cited several things he is proud to see completed during his terms on the board of supervisors, including: a new county jail; the state prison at Lost Gap, which Florey said makes a $5.5 million per year economic impact on Lauderdale County; construction of the Lauderdale County Agri-Center; organization of the East Mississippi Business and Development Corporation; new quarters for Metro Ambulance; remodeled quarters for the county tourism bureau; and improved road work.
He also said he is disappointed infrastructure to the county's new industrial park is not in place.
The desire to serve
Florey said he had wanted to serve in county government even before he ran for office. He decided to wait until he retired from his sales manager job.
Florey said it took a year to get acclimated to his supervisor's position, mainly because it was new to most of the board eight years ago.
Now Florey is helping his successor, Eddie Harper, who won the Republican runoff election in August for District 1 Supervisor.
Florey said his main advice to Harper has been: "Be quick to listen and slow to speak."
Harper said Florey's are big shoes to fill.
Harper and other county elected officials will be sworn in on Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Lauderdale County courthouse.
Florey said he will not attend the ceremony because he said it should be Harper's moment.
Thoughtful, considerate leadership
As much as he is looking forward to retirement again, Florey said there are a few things he will miss.
Florey will be missed, too.
Rex Hiatt, Lauderdale County administrator, called Florey one of the most considerate and thoughtful elected officials with whom he has ever worked.
Hiatt said Florey always takes the time to let people know how much he appreciates them.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt, who serves as president of the board of supervisors, said Florey helped him when he came to the board as a newly-elected supervisor when Florey started his second term.