Son of Former Fla. Gov. to Seek the Job in 2006

NewsMax ^ | January 12, 2005 | None Listed

[MissouriConservative]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The son and namesake of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles Jr. said Tuesday he will run for governor in 2006, hoping to capture the seat his father held for eight years before Gov. Jeb Bush took office.

The younger Chiles, a Democrat, has never run for political office.

"The primary reason I'm running in this campaign is because I feel like people's access to government is limited by money, power and politics," said Lawton "Bud" Chiles III. "The average Joe Citizen is pretty much disenfranchised from the system."

Chiles, 51, lives in Orlando and runs a coastal development company. His mother, Rhea Chiles, will serve as his campaign treasurer.

Lawton Chiles Jr. walked 1,003 miles from Pensacola to the Florida Keys in 1970 in winning a U.S. Senate seat. He served until 1988 and in 1990 won the governorship, which he held until his death in 1998.

Chiles said he believes he can attract central and north Florida voters, who tend to be more conservative than south Florida Democrats.

"When Democrats don't set forth clear messages about who they are and what they represent, then they get squeezed into a stereotype that's pretty damaging," Chiles said. "I don't plan to get out-crackered or out-faithed."

Other Democrats contemplating a run for governor include U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox and state Sen. Rod Smith.

Bush cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

[Kuksool]

There are so many new comers in FL that a good portion of the electorate today probably doesn't know who the late Lawton Chiles is.

[Dustin Hawkins]

At some point George P. Bush is going to have to run for some office...

[ken21]

what form of government is this, an aristocracy?

[MindBender26]

I'm in Orlando, lead an active life, go to about 10 black tie events a year.... and have never heard of this guy.

This guy is a non-starter, as are the others listed.

Dem Front runner, and current Orlando mayor Buddy Mckay? Will probably be indicted for election fraud next month.

On the R side:

Lt. Gov Toni Jennings. Very sharp.
AG Charlie Crist; Trying (too) hard/ Has lifestyle problems.
Sec. State Glenda Hood. Left Orlando in too much financial trouble.
US Rep Tom Feeney. Possible
Former Rep Bill McCollum. His time is probably past.
Others in State Senate and House: No stateside appeal.

Probably Toni Jennings in a cakewalk.

[Aussie Dasher]

Jeb will be busy running elsewhere...

[MindBender26]

George P. needs lots of seasoning. He is 1/2 hispanic, good looking, speaks well, but needs another 8-10 years.

[MindBender26]

>Jeb will be busy running elsewhere...

There is ABSOLUTELY no change Jeb will run for Prez. Hates elective office. Wife hates it even more. She is a huge sourpuss. Not crazy like Tereeeeza, but a real drag. Pleaded no contest to trying to smuggle $17,000 of Paris gowns into US without paying duty.

Jeb return to biz in Miami..... and do very well.

[Kuksool]

Other possible canddiates would be Daniel Webster and Johnnie Bryd. Although the Byrd Man is more interested in being FL House Speaker than anything else. His lackluster Senate run showed that, especially after Mel Martinez jumped in.

[Aussie Dasher]

Pity. I think he'd be good.

[MissouriConservative]

I'm not sure about Florida, but here in Missouri we had a woman win the Sec. of State's job based on her name alone. She had never run for office or held a real job in her life, she's the true child of a democratic family...and she won on name recognition alone.

[MindBender26]

>Daniel Webster and Johnnie Bryd,

Unfortunately no statewide appeal.

[MindBender26]

Post #2 is correct.

[Clemenza]

Walkin' Lawton, the Cracker Communist, was the last Democrat to get both the good ol' boys in the northern part of the state and the chosen people in the southern part. The state has changed since then.

[MissouriConservative]

I'm going to assume, then, that that is a good thing?

[PPHSFL]

I didn't know things had advanced so far with the mayor. I knew he wasn't all that popular but I thought he had enough connections to escape indictment. Hopefully, if he is indicted, a conservative can get into City Hall.

[JohnnyZ]

Surprised you omitted CFO Tom Gallagher, who practically announced his 2006 run in 2003 (or earlier). I'm not sure a pro-abortion moderate (as I understand it) like Toni Jennings could win a GOP primary -- and she's never been elected statewide. Personally I'd prefer Charlie Crist, and he's probably the only one who could beat Gallagher at this point.

[MindBender26]

Yes.

[MissouriConservative]

Good deal. I wish you all the best in Florida in 2006.

[MindBender26]

Gallagher will run, as he seems to have in every election since Florida was readmitted to the Union.

He will be serious candidate, but think it's Toni's. She has got great personal Mojo, and a Rolodex like no other.

Charlie has problems, personal and political. He has tried to pop up on the radar screen a few times with his "Crusading Attorney General" act, but it went nowhere. In Fla, the AG does not handle consumer affairs, (the Sec of Agriculture does [?]) so Crist has no soapbox. In addition, he might do much better keeping a low profile.....