Democrats go on defense for Barley

The candidate for agriculture commissioner, who switched parties, appears with prominent Democrats to respond to attacks.

By JOHN BALZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 8, 2002

TAMPA -- Responding to a TV ad's suggestion that she is a political turncoat, agriculture commissioner candidate Mary Barley enlisted some help Saturday.

Barley and Democrat George Sheldon, a candidate for attorney general, appeared together in Tampa as part of a four-city tour. Sheldon said he was taking a day off from campaigning to defend Barley and her record.

"I am offended by the attack ads being run against Mary Barley," Sheldon said at Raytheon Aircraft Services terminal. "In my opinion there is no place for that in Florida politics."

A 30-second TV spot sponsored by a group in the citrus industry accuses Barley, who switched from the GOP to the Democratic Party before entering the race, of being "barely a Democrat" and donating to Republican candidates.

"Why are these people so terrified of Mary Barley?" asked Barley, who has donated to both parties, including $1,000 to the Bush presidential campaign and more than $35,000 to the state Democratic Party between 1996 and 1998.

Barley is running against Winter Park veterinarian Andrew Michaud and Miami teacher David Nelson in the primary Tuesday.

The winner will face Republican incumbent Charles Bronson in November.

In addition to joining Barley on the tour Saturday, Sheldon appears in a new television ad designed to answer the anti-Barley commercials.

"Corporate special interests are attacking me because I led an effort to force polluters to pay to clean up their mess," Barley says in the ads. "You voted with me to demand polluters pay, but the Legislature won't enforce the law. As commissioner of agriculture, I'll demand that our voices are heard over polluters."

Sheldon, Barley and former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth also appear together in a flier that began landing in mailboxes this week.

"They're honest, they're tough, they're independent ... The Butterworth tradition continues," says the flier, paid for by the Florida Democratic Party.

-- Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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