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Gallagher puts focus on meth labs

Initiatives are popping up almost daily as the race to be the Republican candidate for governor heats up.

By LUCY MORGAN
Published August 23, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher unveiled proposals Monday to deal with the proliferation of illegal methamphetamines labs.

His duties as state fire marshal, Gallagher said, drew the problem to his attention.

Gallagher announced his proposals in the rotunda of the State Capitol, surrounded by blownup photographs of a meth lab that exploded last year and accompanied by uniformed deputies and a recovering meth addict.

A Republican candidate for governor, Gallagher stopped taking questions after reporters pressed him about whether the proposals were a campaign ploy or state business.

It was the latest in a sort of issues tennis match between Gallagher and his chief rival in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Attorney General Charlie Crist, as each tries to stake out ground in their respective bids to replace Gov. Jeb Bush in a general election that is 15 months away.

Earlier Monday, Crist proclaimed victory in a fight against a Florida Power & Light rate increase, much to the pleasure of AARP advocates seated in the front row of a Public Service Commission meeting where the issue was about to be debated.

Gallagher and Crist are issuing statements seemingly every day to announce new initiatives.

In the past couple of weeks Crist has come out with proposals to protect property rights in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing government to take land for private development; opened a storefront to combat crimes against senior citizens; offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever killed Brevard County civil rights pioneer Harry T. Moore and his wife, Hariette; and gone after a bogus government check-writing scam.

Meanwhile, Gallagher has asked banks to waive fees for Holocaust survivors seeking restitution, opposed insurance rate increases proposed by State Farm and Allstate, issued a report on long-term care costs for senior citizens and taken action against an insurance agent caught defrauding senior citizens.

Gallagher's announcement Monday had the look of a political event, with his campaign manager, Brett Doster, hovering in the background.

The meth proposals call for tougher penalties when firefighters or law enforcement officers are injured or killed in meth lab seizures, local strike forces to focus on the drug, protection for children exposed to meth, a trust fund for victims and a toll-free tip line.

Reporters were skeptical.

Why make the proposals now?

"Because it's become a major threat to first responders," said Gallagher, whose duties include insurance, state finances and serving as state fire marshal. "I want to protect the first responders, firefighters and our investigators."

Isn't the timing suspicious?

"Some of us don't know about these problems unless we are out there."

Has he offered a drug initiative before?

"No, it hasn't been an area I was involved in."

"Can you ride this all the way to the Governor's Mansion?" asked Capitol TV news director Rick Flagg.

Gallagher did not respond, and his press secretary declared it the last question.

Did he propose drug programs as education commissioner? Gallagher said he has always supported drug programs in counties that had them.

"I'm putting out a comprehensive legislative agenda I believe offers the best chance to beat the spread of this drug," Gallagher said.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 04:43:15]