The Buzz: Florida politics 2004

Don't waste stamps on electors

Try as they might, Democrats unlikely to sway the state's electors with impassioned prose.

By Times staff writers
Published December 12, 2004

In Tallahassee on Monday, prominent Florida Republicans gather to formally elect George W. Bush as president. It's the meeting of Florida's presidential electors, who ultimately decide the election. Some Democrats across the country in recent weeks have written these electors urging them not to vote for Bush.

The likelihood of that happening with this group of ardently loyal fundraisers, elected officials and party activists? Nil.

"Somebody always writes you a letter," said Zach Zachariah, a top Bush fundraiser on his fourth stint as an elector. "You throw them in the garbage can. You don't pay any attention to that stuff. I don't even read them."

EARLY CAMPAIGN FODDER: If U.S. Rep. Jim Davis does jump into the governor's race, he will already have handed his opponents a ready-made attack. Last week Davis met with dozens of supporters in Tampa to discuss his political plans, skipping the House vote on overhauling the nation's intelligence system.

It doesn't take much creativity to envision the potential TV ad: "When Jim Davis had to choose between politics and keeping America safe, he chose politics."

The five-term representative said he would not have missed Tuesday's vote if there were any question about its outcome. Davis said he supported the reform measures, and the bill passed 336-75.

His political meeting included presentations about November's Florida results from his pollster, Harrison Hickman, and Kerry-Edwards Florida strategist Nick Baldick. Davis described it as "the start of a more focused, serious conversation," but indicated a decision is likely within two months.

"I am not going to delay this. There is no incentive to do that, and there is every disincentive," Davis said.

CANDIDATE SHALALA? With the list of potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates growing (Rep. Jim Davis; former Senate candidate Betty Castor; Bud Chiles, son of the late governor; Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox; and state Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville), here's another: Donna Shalala, University of Miami president and past secretary of the Health and Human Services Department under former President Clinton.

No, she's not making any noises about jumping into the race, but one passionate "LeRoy Collins Democrat" is aiming to persuade her to do just that.

"She's somebody very special, and she's a fighter," said Spring Hill retiree Chuck Schlakman, who has been e-mailing prominent Democrats to generate interest in a draft-Shalala movement.

Schlakman, who has two children who went to Miami (one of them wound up an attorney for the Lawton Chiles administration), has not yet heard a reaction from Shalala. But through an aide, Shalala responded with two words: "Not interested."

CALL HIM JUDGE: Brad Thomas, Gov. Jeb Bush's long-time public safety policy coordinator, is leaving to take a judgeship on the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. He was named Thursday to the appellate court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anne Booth.

Thomas' previous attempts to secure a circuit and county court judgeship were unsuccessful. Thomas, who has advised Bush on the death penalty, crime policy and other issues, caused a stir in 2000 when he urged a more streamlined system of appeals for death row inmates, telling the St. Petersburg Times, "Bring in the witnesses, put them on a gurney, and let's rock and roll." He later apologized for the comment.

Thomas, 50, is a graduate of the University of Florida law school.

HURRICANES TAKE PRIORITY: Few politicos have any doubt about Republican Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher's plans to run for governor, but unlike Rep. Jim Davis, he says he sees no urgency to make a formal announcement. Gallagher said he's busy dealing with the hurricane aftermath.

"I'm not in any rush. If you have visited any of the areas that the hurricanes hit, you will see we are a long way from rebuilding. I really think that's where I ought to be concentrating," Gallagher said last week.

Nobody's in the race yet, but make no mistake: Gallagher and some fellow Republicans - Attorney General Charlie Crist and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings - are talking to fundraisers and political pros.

ON THE MOVE: Jill Bratina, former communications director for Gov. Jeb Bush, has gone to work for Public Strategies, a public affairs firm in Austin, Texas.

Bratina will work out of the firm's Washington office as a director. Bratina grew up in Safety Harbor and graduated from Countryside High School. Her parents live in St. Petersburg.

Alia Faraj, former press secretary for the governor, replaced Bratina as communications director for the governor.

Times staff writers Adam C. Smith, Lucy Morgan and Steve Bousquet contributed to this week's Buzz.

[Last modified December 12, 2004, 00:31:18]