Miami Republican Alex Villalobos says he has secured the pledges of enough Republicans to become the first Cuban American to hold the job of state Senate president. But some fellow Republicans say Villalobos is jumping the gun.

BY GARY FINEOUT AND MARC CAPUTO

TALLAHASSEE - Mounting a quiet but effective campaign, Miami Republican Alex Villalobos is poised to become the first Cuban American to become president of the Florida Senate.

Villalobos says he has locked up enough pledges from fellow Republican state senators to ensure that he will become one of the most powerful men in state government in November 2008. If his victory holds, it means that South Florida will spend the second half of this decade with enormous clout and greater control of the state's purse-strings, because Marco Rubio of Miami is in line to become speaker of the House two years from now.

In line with his sometimes deferential manner, Villalobos initially did not want to discuss his successful campaign, but then said that only in the United States could the son of a Cuban immigrant reach this pinnacle.

''It's a testament to what a great country this is,'' said Villalobos, a 41-year-old attorney who was first elected to the state House in 1992. ``What other country allows refugees to come here from another country and then allows their sons to reach one of the top positions in government?''

Still, four years is an eternity in the political world, and there are many things that must fall into place for Villalobos. Republicans must hold on to their majority in the Florida Senate -- now 26-14 -- and more important, both Villalobos and those aligned with him must get reelected.

That reality had some fellow Republicans who also want to become Senate president saying that Villalobos -- who now has 12 pledges in hand -- is jumping the gun.

''This isn't over by a long shot,'' said Sen. Michael Bennett, a Republican from Bradenton who wants to be Senate president. ``This is something we'll know a lot more about after 2006.''

Added Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami: ``It's a disservice to the incoming senators to decide this so early. There are 15 senators who believe it is too early. There are more who haven't pledged for anyone. It can't be rushed. It can't be forced. It can't be manipulated. It's too early.''

But there is already one sure sign of Villalobos' rise: the new Senate president, Tom Lee, has named him majority leader for the next two years. Lee, a Brandon Republican, was sworn in Tuesday and will be followed by Sen. Ken Pruitt, a Republican from Port St. Lucie in November 2006.

Word about Villalobos buzzed through the Capitol this week. One prominent lobbyist says he has no doubts Villalobos will be president.

''He has been working hard to make it happen in all the right ways,'' Ron Book said. ``A lot of people are trying to pour cold water on it, but . . . no matter how you do the math, he's got the votes.''

Here's the math: There are 26 Republicans now in the 40-member Senate, so only 14 votes are needed to win the presidency. Term limits will force out six GOP senators between now and November 2008. Unless there is a widespread defeat of incumbent senators in 2006 or 2008, it would be nearly insurmountable for a rival to overcome the 12 votes that Villalobos already has lined up.

Five other GOP senators have been angling to become Senate president when the post comes open again in November 2008: Diaz de la Portilla, Bennett, Lee Constantine from Altamonte Springs, . Paula Dockery of Lakeland and Durell Peaden from Crestview.

But Villalobos has apparently been able to win over fellow Republicans with a quiet, reassuring style in one-on-one meetings and was pushed over the top when Peaden gave him his support.

Villalobos' family immigrated to Florida in 1960 from Cuba. His father, who was an attorney there, worked at Sears and at other jobs before he earned a law degree in this country. Father and son now practice together in Miami.

Villalobos has been a loyal Republican but has an independent streak, calling agency heads to task and criticizing the governor for axing lawmakers' projects.

The former prosecutor has chaired judiciary and criminal justice committees, pushing for legislation giving the attorney general the power to sue businesses on behalf of those whose rights are violated. He has pushed for laws that help Death Row inmates get access to DNA testing and that help solve cases by expanding the state DNA database to include all felons by 2005. He created an oversight board to keep tabs on Miami-Dade school district spending after Herald reports showed flaws in contracting.

Herald staff writer Lesley Clark contributed to this report.