State: Jennings turns down appearance at women's rally

Jennings turns down appearance at women's rally

The lieutenant governor says scheduling prevented her from attending the event, which posed a policy conflict.

By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer

TALLAHASSEE -- As the state's first female lieutenant governor, Toni Jennings is considered a role model for young girls.

Yet Jennings turned down a chance to be the guest of honor at a rally Wednesday honoring women who helped make history.

She canceled at the last minute, citing a scheduling conflict.

But the event posed a potential political conflict for Jennings: It was sponsored by a group that would be deeply affected by the governor's proposed budget cuts.

The PACE Center for Girls, a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk teenage girls, would lose millions of dollars under the governor's spending plan. PACE directors say they could be forced to close their doors.

Sensing the urgency, many teenage girls crowded the steps of the state Capitol on Wednesday to plead with lawmakers to keep the PACE Centers statewide. They traveled from as far away as Miami, wore bright-colored shirts with PACE logos and held signs supporting the program.

Jennings said she had intended to stop by the rally and apologized for not being able to attend. "It was just a misunderstanding," she said.

Several girls were disappointed.

Amber Bowden, 16, traveled up from Pinellas Park for the rally. She attends the PACE Center there and has written the governor asking him to reconsider eliminating the money for PACE programs. She thought Jennings should have made an appearance.

"If they are going to make a decision like this, to cut the program, why not come face it?" Bowden said. "We are going to face it."

Jennings' schedule listed no meetings Wednesday from 10:15 a.m. until 3 p.m. The rally was at noon outside her office.

Alia Faraj, a spokesman in the governor's office, said Jennings was running behind from an earlier appointment and used the time to return phone calls, deal with her staff and work on briefing papers.

Politics aside, LaWanda Ravoira, president and CEO for the PACE program, said she would have liked to see Jennings attend.

"This is a rally about celebrating Women's History Month. It's not a political rally," Ravoira said.