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Harris gives, receives praise as she departs
The former secretary of state now turns her attention to winning a seat in Congress.
By ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 14, 2002
TALLAHASSEE -- One of the first things Katherine Harris learned about horseback riding was how to gracefully dismount.
She recalled that lesson Tuesday during farewell comments to the governor and Cabinet.
Her departure as secretary of state, she said, "wasn't quite as graceful as I could have wished. But nonetheless the effect is the same.
"My feet are on the ground."
Despite her abrupt departure and her controversial role in the 2000 presidential election, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet gave her a standing ovation and a resolution praising her tenure.
Harris had hoped Tuesday would be her last day in office, but she was forced to resign nearly two weeks ago because she failed to follow the election laws she was supposed to enforce.
Florida law requires state officials seeking federal office to submit a resignation letter no later than the day they qualify to run. Otherwise they face "an automatic, irrevocable resignation."
Harris failed to submit her resignation letter, so she was forced out.
True to form, Harris insisted to reporters after her farewell remarks that she had followed the letter of the law. She said she didn't think the law applied to her because her elected post is being eliminated.
"I broke no rules and certainly no laws," Harris said. She is considered the overwhelming favorite to win a seat in Congress based in Sarasota.
She had kind words for all six Cabinet officers, including her temporary replacement, Jim Smith, who was formally sworn in Tuesday, and for Bush.
She even had kind words for Attorney General Bob Butterworth, whom she has publicly criticized for not resigning from office 10 days before filing to run for the state Senate. He, too, has said a similar law does not apply to him.
Education Commissioner Charlie Crist, who served with her in the state Senate, presented the resolution, calling her a "tireless advocate for job creation initiatives."
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