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Democrats ponder next leader

With Scott Maddox likely to quit as state party chairman to seek office, speculation begins on possible successors.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published March 8, 2005

Contenders to become the new leader of the state Democratic Party are lining up as Scott Maddox looks increasingly likely to step down to run for governor or other statewide office.

The prospects to replace the former Tallahassee mayor as Democratic chairman so far include former U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman of Dunnellon, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales and former Leon County Democratic chairman Jon Ausman.

Next week Maddox is expected to announce he intends to run for statewide office - but not say which one - and that he will soon step down as party chairman. An election to replace him as chairman likely would be held after the legislative session ends in May, he said.

While in Jacksonville helping Democratic candidates Monday, Maddox would not specify his plans. But most observers expect him to jump into the Democratic gubernatorial primary alongside U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa and state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua.

Selecting a new leader for the party that has become more beleaguered with each election will mostly be up to party insiders, including elected officials and local Democratic executive committee members. The vote is weighted to heavily favor the choice of officials in southeast Florida.

That would provide an advantage to Morales, a Harvard-educated lawyer and former Miami-Dade County commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for Miami-Dade mayor last year.

"I'm 42 years old, and I'm frustrated that I grew up in a blue state that is now a red state. I want to be part of the turnaround," said Morales, who for years has been viewed as a bright light on the party's "bench" of candidates.

He is half Cuban and half Puerto Rican, and Democrats have long talked about the need to aggressively court the state's growing Hispanic population.

Thurman served in the state Legislature and Congress until Republican Ginny Brown-Waite unseated her in 2002. She did not return calls Monday, but some party activists think U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson favors Thurman for the job. She recently became eligible for the position by becoming a state committeewoman from Marion County.

Ausman is a veteran party leader and operative with extensive contacts across the state. He has long advocated that Democrats campaign harder in North Florida and said part of the reason he is thinking of seeking the chairmanship is to ensure that happens.

"We need to develop a 67-county campaign, where we go through the entire state, including Southwest and North Florida, and not focus exclusively on I-4 and Southeast Florida," Ausman said.

Maddox said he is neutral and would have little involvement in selecting a successor.

"We'll be able to get a very capable replacement for me when the time comes," he said.

--Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 8, 2005, 16:52:55]