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Democratic group puts focus on North Florida

The Florida Mainstream Democrats say the party must cater to the Panhandle to remain competitive.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published February 20, 2005

LAKE BUENA VISTA - In Panama City last week, Harold Bazzel quietly did what friends had been urging him to do for years. Bay County's 25-year Clerk of Court changed his party registration from Democrat to Republican.

"I guess the final straw was when Howard Dean was elected national party chairman. The party keeps moving too far to the left for me," Bazzel said in a phone interview. "It's about getting back to basic values, and I don't understand why the party can't figure it out. They've got all these folks from the Northeast leading the party who have nothing in common with folks in our neck of the woods."

In a region of Florida where President Bush won more than 60 percent of the vote, Bazzel's act was hardly earth-shattering. But for some state Democratic leaders say it's indicative of the most critical issue their party faces as it struggles to be competitive.

"In a lot of areas of the state it is a detriment being a Democrat on the ballot, and we have to change that," said Democratic state Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres to about 70 people gathered for a conference of the Florida Mainstream Democrats. "We're in the trough and we can't afford too many more elections like we've had or we'll be gone forever."

The Mainstream Democrats is an offshoot of the party organized by Democratic legislators. It is striving to help Democrats broaden their appeal, especially in rural northern Florida, because the basic electoral math is starting to look tougher and tougher for Democrats. They're faring so poorly in northern Florida and many outlying suburban areas, that it's no longer possible for them to win statewide elections merely by remaining competitive in Tampa Bay and Central Florida and overwhelmingly winning southeast Florida.

"North Florida is going to win the next election," predicted former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, noting that his home county of Broward is steadily diminishing as a Democratic powerhouse.

So they gathered at Disney - South Florida legislators with New York accents, a smattering of law enforcement officials and North Florida politicos with deep drawls - eager to share ideas for a common common goal: "We're here to get Bubba's vote," said state Sen. Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, a founder of the Mainstream Democrats and one of those with a northeastern accent.

Filled with speeches and comments variously defensive and combative, the conference came off as a call to arms and as a catharsis for an endangered Florida species, elected Democrats.

Speakers said many voters have a wrong perception of their values, and said Republicans do a better job of marketing their message. Repeatedly, they called for the party to stress its "big tent" philosophy and embrace people who might support restricting abortions, say, or oppose gun control.

"One of the problems for so many of us whose faith is the essence of our being, is that we don't wear it on our sleeve.," said Sen. Bill Nelson.

At one point the gathering looked more like a pep rally for the gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville.

"When I see the economic development needs of North Florida and see them voting for a Republican, I shake my head and wonder why," said Smith, a former prosecutor. "Why are they voting against their own economic interests? It's because we didn't give them the message to tell them what we are really all about."

Announced Democratic candidates for governor so far include Smith, Lawton "Bud" Chiles and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa. Each casts himself as a moderate with broad appeal, but Smith was the only one invited.

He stayed just long enough to give a quick speech and then left to talk with Richard Swann, a top Democratic fundraiser.

Chiles said in a phone interview that getting the Democratic Party to reconnect with rural and North Florida is a big part of his campaign, but he probably wouldn't have attended the meeting even if invited.

"You don't get that by having a lot of elected officials to sit in a room and talk about it," Chiles said. "You get it by getting out there and talking to real people in real places."

The Mainstream Democrats group is already antagonizing people. Some party insiders say its name suggests any Democrat not belonging to the group is out of the mainstream. Others see it as an exclusive group of Tallahassee insiders.

"It's a good a idea to talk about how to win, but I just hope this group is inclusive," said state Democratic chairman Scott Maddox, another gubernatorial prospect, who was not invited to the meeting made up mostly of white men.

Barney Bishop, president of Associated Industries of Florida, warned that Democratic candidates need to do a better recruiting job if they want Florida businesses to contribute to more Democratic candidates. Too often, he said, candidates are picked by liberal activists from local party organizations.

"If the Democratic Party is only going to be unions and teachers and left wingers you ain't going to be the majority part ever again," Bishop said.

[Last modified February 21, 2005, 01:32:19]