Opinion: Dyer for attorney general

A lot of Floridians came to take Bob Butterworth for granted over the past 16 years. By now, they assume that Florida's attorney general will be an aggressive advocate for the state's citizens, cracking down on consumer fraud and white-collar crime and defending the quality of our environment, the independence of our judiciary and the openness of state and local government.

In choosing Butterworth's successor, Florida voters will help to determine whether that legacy is extended or reversed.

If voters give this important race the serious attention it deserves, they will elect Democrat Buddy Dyer, who offers the best hope for carrying forward the values and priorities that have marked Butterworth's four terms as attorney general. But if too many voters base their decisions on name recognition or other superficial factors, they could wake up to find the attorney general's office operating in ways that are inimical to the standards Butterworth established.

Dyer, who has received Butterworth's endorsement, combines the political skills and legal expertise needed to keep the attorney general's office operating in the tradition Butterworth has established. Dyer says his top priority would be to crack down on corporate crime, and he promises to place even greater emphasis than Butterworth has on combatting Medicaid fraud and civil rights violations.

Mindful of elections controversies over the past two years, he also pledges to take all actions necessary to keep the attorney general's office free from any entanglement in partisan politics.

Dyer, a state senator from Orlando, served as Senate Democratic leader from 1997 to 2000. In Tallahassee, he has built a reputation for working cooperatively with the Republican leadership, particularly in winning passage of important education and law-enforcement programs. Although his legislative record has not been spotless on issues related to open government and environmental protection -- for example, his "self-audit" bill would have shielded polluters from fines and lawsuits -- Dyer currently has broad support from environmental groups and government watchdog organizations. Those groups have been reassured by Dyer's demonstrated legal acumen and progressive agenda.

The groups supporting Dyer also have reason to question the credentials of his Republican opponent, Charlie Crist.

Crist, as usual, has the advantage in campaign dollars and name recognition, but he has shown himself to be much more adept at running for office than serving in office.

As a legislator, Crist made a name for himself with publicity stunts and sound bites, but he didn't win a reputation as a serious lawmaker. While he attached himself to a couple of high-profile issues that allowed him to cast himself as an environmentalist and consumer advocate, he quietly voted for dozens of pieces of legislation that undercut the image he sought to cultivate.

In his current job as state education commissioner, Crist saw the powers of his office stripped away by Gov. Jeb Bush in the course of a broad reorganization of public education.

The attorney general's office, with its broad powers to affect Floridians' lives for good or ill, may be the least appropriate political position Crist has sought. His legal credentials are virtually nonexistent; his Republican opponents ridiculed them during the primary campaign.

By contrast, Dyer has 15 years of experience in commercial litigation and has received the highest rating for an attorney, AV, from the Martindale-Hubbell rating service. In his legal career and in public office, he has worked seriously on the issues that are at the core of the attorney general's responsibilities. His superior record as an attorney and as a lawmaker makes him the obvious choice to carry forward the legacy Butterworth leaves after 16 years.

The Times strongly recommends Buddy Dyer for attorney general.

Opportunity to reply

The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. In the attorney general race, a reply should be sent in no later than 5 p.m. Thursday to: Philip Gailey, editor of editorials, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. By e-mail: letters@sptimes.com (no attachments, please). By fax: (727) 893-8675; Replies are limited to 250 words.

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