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The Buzz: Florida politics

Tensions on agenda in Democrats' tent

By Times staff writers
Published February 20, 2005

Emissaries from the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns of Bud Chiles, Jim Davis and Rod Smith will meet with state party chairman Scott Maddox Tuesday for what could be a heated discussion. It seems the campaigns have had a mighty tough time getting phone calls returned, let alone help, from their party.

Typically a party provides plenty of help in a primary, at least to candidates raising money for the party. But then, this is not a typical year because Maddox is widely seen as a likely candidate for governor himself. He has implied that none is strong enough to win and that he will jump in the race if Betty Castor doesn't.

His potential rivals are hoping the budding tensions will end with Tuesday's meeting.

"I'm confident we're going to work all this out," said Karl Koch, a senior aide to Davis.

Even scheduling a conversation was not easy, though. "We practically had to break the door down to get a meeting," said Screven Watson, an adviser to the Smith campaign.

CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION: One Republican looking at running an uphill campaign to succeed Rep. Jim Davis: investment banker Eric K. Carl of Tampa. The 36-year-old former Army Reserve captain and former regional coordinator for the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers is under no illusions about the district that John Kerry won with 60 percent support. "To say it leans Democratic is a big understatement," Carl said.

CHAIRMAN UHLFELDER: He may be persona non grata in Senate President Tom Lee's office, but Tallahassee lawyer-lobbyist Steve Uhlfelder hasn't lost his touch in Washington. Uhlfelder recently was elected to a second one-year term as chairman of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

The 12-member board, named after the former Arkansas senator, is made up of presidential appointees who annually choose participants for programs to improve cultural relationships between the United States and other countries through education.

RICE RESISTS: Gov. Jeb Bush was walking the Capitol's halls recently when he ran into Rep. Irv Slosberg, the Boca Raton Democrat crusading for tougher seat belt laws. A smiling Slosberg told Bush his bill was moving along with only one no vote so far, cast by state Rep. Everett Rice, R-Treasure Island.

Bush, who favors Slosberg's bill, was surprised. "Everett Rice? The sheriff?"

Many law enforcement officials favor strengthening the law to cut down on deaths and injuries from crashes. But Rice, a former Pinellas sheriff, is opposed.

"You've got to draw the line," Rice said. "At what point are we going to let the government intrude into our private lives to protect us from ourselves?"

BUDDING BLOGGERS: More and more political operations are starting blogs, or Web logs, which allow people to communicate in a more informal setting online. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Sarasota, is the latest to jump on the blogger trend at www.harris.house.gov The Florida Democratic Party recently started its own blog, fladems.blogspot.com. The Florida GOP has no plans to follow suit.

ONLY 'NOLES NEED APPLY: Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell went out of his way Tuesday night before opening a concert for Tallahassee's Seven Days of Opening Nights arts series to introduce Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, sitting in the front row of the balcony.

Sansom, the presumed House speaker designate in 2009-10, will serve alongside presumed Senate president designate Alex Villalobos, R-Miami. Both men are FSU alumni.

"Now if this crowd can just elect the "right governor,' " Wetherell concluded to a round of laughter.

Wetherell, a former Democratic House speaker who is friendly with many Republicans, didn't elaborate whom he meant. The only two Seminoles believed to be considering a 2006 gubernatorial bid are Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist and Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox.

Times staff writers Adam C. Smith, Steve Bousquet and Joni James contributed to this week's column.

[Last modified February 20, 2005, 00:52:14]