Kyc: Governor: A lesson in contrasts

It's the first time two baby boomers have squared off for the governorship of Florida, and neither held political office before reaching for the state's top job.

The similarities end there.

Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and Democrat Bill McBride offer two starkly different visions about the role of government and how Florida should handle its affairs. At cookouts, rallies, and ball games on the campaign trail this fall, each has accused the other of being a threat to the future of the state and its families, students and economy.

McBride, a Tampa lawyer who ran Holland & Knight, the state's largest law firm, is a longtime civic activist and a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War. Bush, a Miami developer who is the son of one president and brother to another, is finishing his first term after losing his initial attempt for governor in 1994.

Since taking office, Bush has boasted about cutting taxes and reducing government, and he has won enough Democratic and independent support so far this fall to maintain a slim lead in the polls. He has portrayed McBride as a big-spending liberal, and frequently reminds voters his opponent has no government experience.

McBride, meanwhile, tells audiences Bush has cut too much, especially in education and social services, and says it's "time to start investing again."

As recently as six months ago, it didn't appear as if the governor's race would be much of a contest. McBride was trailing badly behind former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and polls showed she had a slim chance of beating Bush.

The Republican Party of Florida had $20-million in the bank, and Democrats were having trouble raising a quarter of that.

But McBride's upset victory over Reno in September has brought energy and excitement to the state Democratic Party it hasn't had in years.

Now polls suggest that, once again, every vote on election day truly will count.

Education is the centerpiece of both candidates' platforms.

Bush says schools are improving on his watch, and he campaigns as being passionate about ensuring students learn "a year's worth of knowledge in a year's worth of time." He points to rising reading and math scores during his administration.

The keystone to Bush's program is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. FCAT scores also help determine each school's grade. Schools that do well are rewarded, while those that fail can lose funding.

Bush also boasts he has boosted education spending by $3-billion. That's true, but Democrats note that after inflation, enrollment increases and last year's budget cuts are factored in, the actual increase amounts to just $10 per student during the first three years of Bush's term.

In September, Bush proposed borrowing $2.8-billion to build 300 more schools, or 12,000 new classrooms to lower classes sizes.

McBride contends that Florida schools under Bush are plagued by low teacher pay and crowded classrooms. He says it's wrong to use the FCAT to grade schools, and has proposed using it instead to assess students' strengths and weaknesses.

He has proposed spending an extra $1-billion a year on education, mainly for smaller classes and better teacher pay. He says he would get the money from a new, 50-cent-per-pack cigarette tax, which would cover $565-million, and by killing Legislators' pet projects and ending sales tax exemptions for certain goods and services.

Other issues that have been part of the campaign include child welfare and the environment.

On child welfare, Bush recently hired a new secretary of the Department of Children and Families after repeated scandals, including the case of a 5-year-old girl, Rilya Wilson, who was missing from foster care for a year before the state noticed. Funding for DCF also has increased under Bush.

McBride says he would launch a national search for a new director, and convene a panel of experts to critique the department. He also advocates better training and pay for case workers.

As for the environment, McBride says growth management is the top environmental issue facing Florida, and he criticizes Bush for giving local governments more control over development.

Bush also talks about growth management to lessen the stress on crowded schools and roads, but he has been unable to pass a law restricting development where schools are overcrowded.

Bush has expanded Florida's land preservation program, and he also has committed to a major federal-state Everglades cleanup.

Don't like what you see? Voters also may choose from several unaffiliated candidates: Robert "Bob" Kunst, a longtime Miami Beach gay and Democratic activist; Terry Galloway, AKA Mickee, of Tallahassee; Rachele Fruit of Tampa; or John Wayne Smith of Leesburg.

Only Kunst has raised a significant amount of money, $15,600. And Smith says he is actually a Libertarian who is running under no party affiliation "to bring a new perspective to the debate."

THE JOB

The governor is the chief executive officer of the state and is responsible for overseeing state agencies, appointing judges and approving legislation. Florida's governor has the additional power to veto individual items in the annual budget. The lieutenant governor carries out duties assigned by the governor and becomes governor if the governor is unable to serve. The incoming governor will be paid $120,171 next year.

REPUBLICAN

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush

Age: 49
Place of Birth: Midland, Texas
Family: wife, Columba; two sons and a daughter
Education: h

Bush

igh school, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass; University of Texas, B.A. in Latin American studies
Religion: Roman Catholic
Business background: real estate developer in Miami
Public service experience: Florida commerce secretary; governor, 1999 to present
Assets: home, car, investments
Liabilities: mortgage
Source of income: state of Florida salary
Hobbies: golf, fishing, reading

Frank Brogan, 49, of Martin County, is Bush's running mate. He has served as Bush's lieutenant governor since 1999. He is a former school teacher, principal and superintendent who also served as state education commissioner.

DEMOCRAT

William H. "Bill" McBride Jr.

Age: 57
P

McBride

lace of birth: Belleville, Ill.
Family: wife, Alex Sink; a son and a daughter
Education: Leesburg High School; University of Florida, B.A., English; University of Florida law school
Religion: Presbyterian
Business background: former managing partner, Holland & Knight law firm
Public service experience: U.S. Marines, 1968 to 1971; various civic boards and commissions, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Assets: home, orange groves, investments
Liabilities: mortgages on real estate
Source of income: Holland & Knight, investment dividends
Hobbies: coaching baseball, fishing

Tom Rossin, 69, of Royal Palm Beach, is McBride's running mate. He is a lawyer, a former banker and a rancher who is finishing his eighth year in the state Senate, most recently as the minority leader. His district represents much of Palm Beach County.