Florida Democrats Unite Behind Jeb [FL's Dem Leaders Dumping McLawyer]

FL students crowd around Gov Jeb Bush on a recent campaign stop.

For Immediate Release

Thursday, September 26, 2002

Florida Democrats Unite Behind Jeb

MIAMI BEACH - In another sign of Gov. Jeb Bush's strong bi-partisan support, a who's who of past and present Democrat Party leaders today endorsed Bush and pledged to do "what it takes" to ensure his reelection.

Announced at a press conference in Miami Beach, the "Democrats for Jeb" Steering Committee is made up of dozens of state and local Democrat leaders, including a former Governor, a sitting State Senator, three former Speakers of the House, several incumbent mayors and city commissioners, a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party and a variety of other community activists and leaders.

"I am proud to once again stand up and proclaim that I am a Democrat for Jeb Bush," stated Sen. Ron Silver. "Four years ago I took a chance by endorsing Jeb and four years later, that chance has paid off not only for me, but more importantly for all Floridians. I pledge to do whatever it takes to make sure he is reelected."

Gov. Bush has always enjoyed the support of Democrats from across the state. In fact, according to the latest Mason-Dixon survey, close to 20% of all Democrats would support Bush over corporate lawyer Bill McBride if the elections were held this week.

"I am a proud lifetime Democrat, representing one of the most Democratic regions of our state, but I am also 100 percent behind Jeb Bush," stated Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. "Jeb has been a great governor for all Floridians, Republican, Democrat and Independent alike. He has tirelessly led the fight to improve Florida's public schools, and has shown steadfast leadership in the fight over education reform. Florida is on the right track. I am proud to be a Democrat and I am proud to support Jeb Bush."

"I am honored to have the support of such a distinguished group of Floridians," stated Gov. Bush. "I have always believed that what is right for Florida is much more important than what is right for politics. I am humbled by the trust these fine men and women have placed in me and I promise to them, and every other Floridian, that if I am honored with a second term, I will not let them down."

Democrats joining Bush at the event today were:

Mayor David Dermer of Miami Beach;
Mayor Dick Greco of Tampa;
Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale;
State Senator Ron Silver of North Miami;
Former Speakers of the House James Harold Thompson, T.K. Wetherell and Don Tucker;
Former Agriculture Commissioner and current Citrus Commissioner Bob Crawford;
Miami Beach Commissioners Matti Bower and Luis Garcia;
Florida Board of Education Member Julia Johnson;
Hollywood City Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom;
Homestead City Council Member Judy Waldman;
Mayor of Pembroke Park Annette Wexler;
Pembroke Park City Manager Dr. Bob Levy;
Manny Medina, CEO of Terremark; President and CEO of Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation ;
R. Donahue Peebles; Chairman and Managing Partner, Steel Hector & Davis LLP Joe Klock.

[As not all Steering Committee members were able to attend today's event, the complete list of members is below.]

"Some things are more important than simple party label," stated Former Speaker of the House James Harold Thompson. "Jeb Bush has been an outstanding Governor over the last four years. He has pushed our education system to get the best for our children. He has been a vigilant steward of our environment and a superb leader for Florida's economy. I am proud of our Governor, I am proud to support him and I hope all of my fellow Democrats across Florida will do the same."

"Democrats for Jeb" Steering Committee

Pete Antonacci, Former Florida Statewide Prosecutor, Former Deputy Attorney General
Milton Aponte, Attorney and Activist for the Developmentally Disabled
Charlie Aycock, Osceola County Sheriff
Paula Barton, Baker County Schools Superintendent
Steven Bateman, Homestead City Council Member
Harold Bazzell, Bay County Clerk of Courts
Barney Bishop, Former Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party
Matti Bower, Miami Beach Commissioner Cornel Brock, Chairman of Bay County Commission
Larry Campbell, Leon County Sheriff
Theresa Ciummo, Pembroke Park City Commissioner
Howard Clark, Pembroke Park City Commissioner
Bob Crawford, Former Agriculture Commissioner
David Dermer, Mayor of Miami Beach
John Fugate, Desoto County Sheriff
Luis Garcia, Miami Beach Commissioner
Ernie George, President of the Police Benevolent Association
Howard Godwin, Highlands County Sheriff
Dick Greco, Mayor of Tampa
Julia Johnson, Member of the Florida Board of Education
Joe Klock, Chairman and Managing Partner, Steel Hector & Davis LLP
Harold Knowles, Attorney and Trustee, Florida State University
Dr. Bob Levy, Pembroke Park City Manager
Raul Masvidal, Managing Director, Masvidal Partners, Inc.
Manny Medina, CEO of Terremark
Carson McCall, Lafayette County Sheriff
John McDaniel, Jackson County Sheriff
C.K. "Mac" McElyea, Dania Beach City Commissioner
Frank McKeithen, Gulf County Sheriff
Bob Milner, Bradford County Sheriff
Wayne Mixson, Former Governor of Florida
Herb Morgan, Former State Representative
Jim Naugle, Mayor of Fort Lauderdale
Leon Nettles, Wakulla County Commissioner
R. Donahue Peebles, President and CEO of Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation
Fred Peel, Washington County Sheriff
Jeffrey Porter, Homestead City Council Member
James Rider, Glades County Sheriff
Charles Shields, Mayor of St. Marks
Roy Shiver, Vice Mayor of Florida City
Emma Shoaff, Pembroke Park City Commissioner
Ron Silver, Florida State Senator
James Harold Thompson, Former Speaker of the House
Don Tucker, Former Speaker of the House
David Turner, Gilchrist County Sheriff
Steve Uhlfelder, Former Regent, Florida Counsel Clinton/Gore 1996
Judy Waldman, Homestead City Council Member
Keith Wasserstrom, Hollywood City Commissioner
T.K. Wetherell, Former Speaker of the House
Annette Wexler, Mayor of Pembroke Park
W.A. Woodham, Gadsden County Sheriff
Steve Worley, Hendry County Sheriff

Group of prominent Democrats, former lawmakers endorsing Bush

Associated Press, September 26, 2002, by Alex Veiga

MIAMI (AP) _ A state senator and a former governor who held office for three days are among a group of Democrats who have crossed party lines to back Gov. Jeb Bush over Democratic opponent Bill McBride.

State Sen. Ron Silver of North Miami, former Florida Gov. Wayne Mixson and several former state lawmakers and current mayors, all Democrats, endorsed the governor Thursday.

``I ask myself is there any reason why I should not re-endorse the governor for re-election. I cannot think of one reason,'' said Silver, who supported Bush in 1998. ``The governor has done it the old fashioned way: He has earned re-election by the people of Florida.''

Bush also picked up the endorsement of Bob Crawford, a former Democratic agriculture commissioner and the current director of Florida's Citrus Commission.

``I have served under five governors. I think he's the most effective governor we've had during that time,'' Crawford said.

Bush, who last week drew $250,000 for the Florida Republican Party from about 50 South Florida Democrats, appeared in Miami Beach Thursday afternoon along with 17 of 52 Democrats who are making up a steering committee in support of his re-election campaign.

Bush thanked the Democrats for their support and defended his record in office, particularly progress made in the number of black and Hispanic fourth-graders who can read at grade level since he became governor.

``That didn't happen by osmosis. That didn't happen by luck,'' Bush said. ``That happened because there was a focused effort to assure that children weren't left behind.''

Among those present Thursday were three former state House speakers: Don L. Tucker of Tallahassee, T.K. Wetherell of Daytona Beach and James Harold Thompson of Gretna. The mayors of Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Miami Beach were also supporting Bush.

Florida Democratic Party spokesman Ryan Banfill said the endorsements do not signal McBride is losing support from his own party, because many of the Democrats supporting Bush supported him in 1998.

``It means about 10 more votes for Jeb Bush, that's about all it means,'' Banfill said. ``The endorsement that matters is the endorsement that comes from the people of Florida by the voters who cast on Election Day, and that's the endorsement that Bill McBride will win.''

Silver was the only Democratic co-sponsor _ along with most Republicans in the Senate _ of a measure that gave businesses a $262 million tax break as part of the effort to stimulate the economy last spring.

Silver and Bush were at odds, however, on the idea of a cruise tax to help the Florida Marlins build a new stadium. Silver sponsored the tax, Bush opposed it. It never passed.

Mixson, who was former Gov. Bob Graham's lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1987 and briefly served as governor when Graham left for the U.S. Senate, donated $500 to the Bush campaign last year, according to state records.

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle and Mixson all supported Bush's brother, President Bush, in the 2000 election.

The endorsements came a day before Bush and McBride's first televised debate and on the heels of new poll results showing the Tampa attorney has gained some ground against the governor.

A survey released Thursday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research shows that McBride has closed to within striking distance of Bush _ 49 percent to 43 percent.

No-party candidate Bob Kunst got 1 percent. Seven percent were undecided. The phone poll of 625 registered, likely voters, conducted Sept. 22-24, had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

A similar poll by Mason-Dixon in January showed Bush with a 31 point lead over the Tampa lawyer.

A poll released Monday by MSNBC/Zogby showed Bush leading with 49 percent to McBride's 39 percent among likely Florida voters. The survey of 500 likely voters on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 had a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

``I'm pleased most of the polls show that I'm ahead,'' Bush said. ``I``m not taking anything for granted.''

State Sen. Tom Rossin, McBride's running mate, criticized Bush's leadership during a discussion with reporters on Thursday in Tallahassee.

``Many of the mistakes that he's made stem from the fact that he can't take criticism,'' Rossin said. ``He doesn't understand that working in a large organization, and the government of Florida is a very large organization, that you need all the input you possibly can get in order to lead and he can't lead because he doesn't get that input.''

Rossin was to meet with U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman Friday afternoon in Miami to discuss the campaign and attend a fund-raiser.

Florida's business climate was terrific under the Democrats, too. Hopefully, JEB won't make a mess of it. Unfortunately he's not off to a very good start having successfully pushed to strengthen the Governor's office and reduce the number of elected cabinet officers. If he is reelected and succeeds in increasing legislators' pay and making them full time legislators he'll have earned the support of all those Southeastern Floridians who want to do for Florida what they did for NY.

LOL...caltrop, you know I like you, but you have this one note you play all the time with Gov Bush, about his strengthening the power of the FL Gov office - yet, you always fail to mention (1) how weak it was in comparison to other governor offices in this country (I think it was #50 or something in comparision); and (2) the fact FL remains the only state where a governor is required by the state constitution I believe, to share the power of the governor's office with an elected cabinet. You always make it sound much worse than it is by omitting these two very material facts!

As for Gov Bush making "a mess" of the "terrific" business climate, it sounds like you did not read the link I posted to you - not only that link, but throw in the front page news in the NYT in January, touting FL's economy as #1 in the midst of a nationwide recession. And, Gov Bush does deserve credit, because he personally got involved with the tourism industry and did a great deal to save it for FL. Even the National Tourism Industry honored his efforts and recoginzed him at their recent convention in New Orleans for that. You never him credit at all - however, he really does deserve some here.

And, as for your claim about "increasing legislator's pay" - it was Gov Bush, alone, who demanded a salary freeze on state employees earning over $90K per year at a time when COngress in DC was voting themselves a salary hike. Gov Bush also took a salary freeze. And, all that money went to pay for increased port security here in FL. Again, facts that are revelevant, but do not register for you.

Finally, if Gov Bush does win re-election, I personally hope he gives himself a raise, in light of the fact his salary is only $120,000 per year, while many public school superintendents in this country earn well over $200,000 annnually - such as in Cleveland. I think it is a lot harder to be the governor of the 4th largest state than to be a school district superintendent (and many other school superintendents earn over $200K as well). Also, there are FL state employees who earn more than the FL governor, and this does not seem right either to me.

FInally, as for McLawyer - where is his track record as governor? Nowhere. It's easy to shoot your mouth off, but it's harder to have actually done the job and made the hard decisions.

BTW, FL Dems I personally know have recently noted McLawyer's publicity, but, they say to me: "It would be a shame if Gov Bush lost this election BECAUSE HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR FL." This is right out of the mouths of FL Dem voters I know. And, I'm not kidding.

Rossin's telling Jeb how to do his job? What do others say about Rossin's legislative decisions:

The National Federation of Independent Business legislative report card for the year 2002 said this about McBride's choice of a running mate:

Those lawmakers on the bottom of NFIB's list are Democrats mostly from South Florida, including Senate Democratic Leader Tom Rossin of West Palm Beach.

NFIB evaluated lawmakers based on how they voted on issues affecting small business, such as unemployment compensation and McKay's proposal to tax services such as accounting. The rankings will determine which lawmakers the organization supports in this fall's elections.
Link

Former Fla. Sen. and current McBride running mate Tom Rossin received an "F" from the Florida Chamber of Commerce for the 2002 legislative session.
Link

JEB Gets An "A" (Wall Street Journal)

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