Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Bush distances self from legislators' fundraisers

During a week of committee meetings, House members are also refilling campaign chests - a little close to the Katrina tragedy, in the governor's view.

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published September 13, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Dozens of Florida legislators are collecting checks this week for their re-election campaigns, but Gov. Jeb Bush will stay away.

Bush questioned the timing of campaign fundraisers two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. He will go to Mississippi on Wednesday to view Katrina's destruction and visit relief workers from Florida.

In response to a reporter's question, Bush stopped short of calling for others to follow his example.

"I will leave that for others to determine. I would not participate in a fundraiser right yet," Bush said. "I think, given the magnitude of the tragedy that we see unfolding, that at least I, for one, will not participate in any fundraising activities."

Bush recalled that his brother, President Bush, and Democrat John Kerry suspended politicking in Florida when four hurricanes struck the state last year.

The governor's view could pose an awkward dilemma for some fellow Republicans.

Florida House members are at the Capitol all week for committee meetings and have scheduled fundraisers to maximize financial support from a vast crowd of lobbyists and trade associations. For them, a legislative committee week is an opportunity to fatten their campaign bank accounts.

Some fundraisers were set up weeks ago, long before Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

Three House members interviewed Monday said their fundraisers would go on as planned.

Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, was one of five House Republicans who held fundraisers Monday. His $500-per-person event with Rep. Susan Goldstein, R-Weston, was held at the Florida Association of Realtors offices.

He noted that a fundraiser planned over Labor Day weekend to benefit House Republicans' campaigns was canceled and rescheduled as a Katrina fundraising breakfast on Thursday in conjunction with the American Red Cross.

"The real issue is, are we as members of the Florida House going to raise money for victims? The answer to that is yes," Cannon said.

Cannon said he understood the plight of Katrina's victims as well as anybody. His suburban Orlando home was destroyed by Hurricane Charley last August.

Rep. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is holding a $500-per-person fundraiser Wednesday at the offices of an architects' trade association. Like many Floridians, Justice said he has contributed to Katrina fundraising efforts at work.

Justice, a state Senate candidate, said he saw "some validity" to Bush's position. But he added that he would have canceled his fundraiser if he thought his campaign was getting money that otherwise would help storm victims.

"The people who are giving money have enough money to make both donations or they're coming from groups that have another division that raises money for charity," he said.

Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, said he doubted legislators would even be at the Capitol this week if Katrina had done more damage in Florida. Rivera, who holds a fundraiser Thursday night, offered a simple reason for the busy fundraising schedule this week: "A lot of the folks that support legislators live in Tallahassee."

--Times staff writer Joni James contributed to this report. Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or 850 224-7263.

[Last modified September 13, 2005, 01:45:22]