Longest Serving GOP Elected Official in Florida Switching to Democrat Party

South Florida Sun-Sentinel ^ | 9/2/03 | Buddy Nevins

[sofloridian]

Top Republican Official to Switch Parties

Broward County Property Appraiser William "Bill" Markham, who was elected in 1968 at the high-water mark of Republican power in Broward and today is the lone GOP countywide officeholder, intends to become a Democrat this week, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has learned.

Markham's conversion is a major coup for the Democratic Party, which has had little good news since 2000 when the presidential recount in Florida gave the election to George W. Bush. Although the state Republican Party does not keep statistics, a GOP spokesman in Tallahassee said Markham may be the longest-serving Republican in Florida. He has held the same office for more than 34 years.

"He'll be a wonderful addition to our party," said Mitch Ceasar, the Broward County Democratic leader ...

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Ooh. The ASSESSOR is switching parties. What news/not.

Wasn't Howard Sprague on Mayberry RFD the tax appraisor?

[WestPacSailor]

It was his razor-thin win in his 2000 re-election that convinced Markham he needed to change parties to remain in office.

And THAT, my friends, is the bottom line. Best quote I've seen yet to confirm that politics is all about getting reelected.

[goldstategop]

Well its not much of a coup for the Democrats considering Broward County IS their Democrat stronghold in south Florida. Doncha just love how the liberal media plays up every time a GOP RINO deserts his party? His defection is no great loss.

[Non-Sequitur]

Best quote I've seen yet to confirm that politics is all about getting reelected.

For both parties.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I hope the form they use to register as a democrat isn't too complicated. We wouldn't want this putz popping out the wrong chad.

[goldstategop]

Yep. Its all about avoiding being ousted by a Rat next year in Broward County. The GOP won't run any one against him there. A Republican has as a good a chance of being elected dogcatcher in Broward as a Democrat has a good a chance of being elected in most of Texas.

[Thane_Banquo]

Wow. We lost our Chief County Dog Catcher to the Democratic party. If he's been in that position for 34 years, it tells me he isn't exactly an up and coming political force.

[goldstategop]

LOL!!! Ain't that the truth.

[capt. norm]

Well I hope he doesn't let the door hit him on the butt when he leaves.

This opportunist will "change his spots" to suit the scenery. He just wants to look like the rest of the crowd...if they're doing it then he's doing it.

In Democrat circles, following is called "leadership"

[hardhead]

If he is a professional politician, let the demons have him. This will be good for the Republicans.

[goldstategop]

There are not that many Republicans in his county. I'm surprised he was able to hold onto to his job as long as he did considering the rest of Florida is safely GOP. If he had any honor he could have packed his bags and moved to a GOP friendly area where he would have won in a cakewalk.

[goldstategop]

We don't need RINOs like him for sure.

[Consort]

For both parties.

For every party and every elected person. That's the way it is.

[WorkingClassFilth]

""He'll be a wonderful addition to our party," said Mitch Ceasar, the Broward County Democratic leader..."

That's nice. An entire county populated with stupid, corrupt Gorons and a Republican is considered a "wonderful addition." Makes you wonder why the difference between Republicans and Democrats is sometimes questioned on these threads. Nice legacy there, William "Bill" Markham! I'm just glad this spineless wiener has finally come out of the closet.

[albee]

If he's been in that position for 34 years, it tells me he isn't exactly an up and coming political force.

No, but the liberal media will headline this as a "growing trend"!

[Consort]

More than 500 elected Democrats have switched parties in recent years. How many Republicans have switched?

[InvisibleChurch]

he must feel that the democrat party has the right ideas and positive attitude to help turn our country around

[epluribus_2]

when the presidential recount in Florida gave the election to George W. Bush

NOT!

The recount FAILED to GIVE the election to GORE (loser) after GWB already won it - fair and square.

[harpu]

What y'all need to do now is find yourselves a good canine, with human sounding name, put it on the ballot against this bozo and then get it elected!