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Wednesday, July 3, 2002

Associated Press

Bush courts minority voters in Broward

By Ken Thomas

DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Jeb Bush ventured into the Democratic stronghold of Broward County on Wednesday, courting minority voters in his attempt to become the first Republican governor to earn re-election.

Meeting with groups of Hispanic, Jewish and black voters who traditionally cast ballots for Democrats, Bush touted his record on education and diversity while vowing not to concede any voting group in Florida.

The governor stressed his commitment to education, citing $3 billion in new educational spending since the start of his administration. He said his work to institute testing and grades for schools would reduce the barriers that prevent minority students from achieving.

''I'm proud of the fact that we have one experience for every kid, whether they have a vowel at the end of their name or a consonant,'' Bush told about 150 cheering Hispanic supporters in Dania Beach.

Bush was joined by his Mexican-born wife Columba Bush and flanked by 24 people appointed to state commissions and boards, a record for Hispanics in the county. Mixing his comments in both Spanish and English, Bush spoke of building a ''field of dreams'' in Florida where racial barriers would be torn down.

''I want the field of dreams to include the many faces of Florida.''

The governor then met with black voters in Fort Lauderdale where he remained firm to his One Florida agenda, which eliminated racial preferences in college admissions and hiring. He said his policies have increased the number of black students in state colleges and increased the number of black high school students enrolled in advanced placement courses.

''This is a crazy thing _ a conservative Republican actually has a better record than my predecessors on many of these issues.''

The Rev. Mack King Carter, pastor of New Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale and an undecided voter, praised Bush's record in comparison to his Democratic predecessors, Govs. Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham. He said black voters should consider Bush's record.

''We're going to have to change the perception because the perception of Republicans is that they're racists,'' Carter said.

When asked about his views on immigration policies involving Haitian migrants, Bush split with the administration of his brother, President Bush. The governor said any migrants who have a ''well-founded fear of persecution'' should be allowed to remain in the country and not placed in the Krome Detention Center.

''There should be no different treatment for a Haitian immigrant than any other nationality,'' Bush said.

The governor later met with Jewish voters at the Tamarac home of Harold Wishna, a Democrat who supported Bush in 1998.

Wishna urged the mostly Democratic crowd to support Bush, saying it's ''important that we judge the individual and the office they hold.''

Bush cited his brother's record as a supporter of Israel in the current conflict with the Palestinians and said he has worked to build trading ties with the country during his first term.

''I am unabashedly pro-Israeli without any qualms about it.'' [said Gov. Bush]

Broward County would present challenges for any Republican _ registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a margin of nearly two to one. Bush has never gained 40 percent of the vote in Broward during his first two campaigns for governor, but increased his support slightly in his 1998 defeat of Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay in 1998.

Bush's two leading Democratic rivals for governor scoffed at his courting of voters in the county.

''Jeb Bush wants Floridians to believe in his imaginary world,'' said Nicole Harburger, a spokeswoman for Janet Reno. ''Voters always detect a wolf in sheep's clothing.''

''He's not going to succeed very well there,'' said Alan Stonecipher, a spokesman for Bill McBride. ''But I guess he's got to be somewhere.''