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Maddox drops out of race

Nicked by negative stories, the former party chairman abandons his quest for governor and throws his support to Rep. Jim Davis.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published October 8, 2005

Scott Maddox, the former state Democratic chairman once seen as a strong contender for the party's gubernatorial nomination, dropped out of the race Friday and threw his support to U.S. Rep. Jim Davis.

The move came after months of controversy over Maddox's financial management of the state party and immediately recast the Democratic contest for governor. Barring another candidate stepping in, the primary is now a choice between two savvy, moderate voices in the Florida Democratic Party: Davis of Tampa and state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua.

Maddox brushed off suggestions that his campaign was in trouble amid all the negative publicity, although he was the only candidate in the race who would not release his latest fundraising total. He simply wanted to unify the party, he said, implying that Smith should now clear the field for Davis and spare the party a divisive and expensive primary.

"The Republicans have raised nearly $10-million between them, and a year out from the primary, the special interest groups have already started to run ads on their behalf," Maddox said in a conference call with reporters. "Quite simply, for the good of the Democratic Party we must put aside our differences and our personal ambitions and unite behind one candidate."

In dropping out of the governor's race, the 37-year-old former mayor of Tallahassee left open the possibility of running for a lower-profile office such as agriculture commissioner or attorney general: "I'm going to do whatever I can to help the Democratic Party."

That Maddox would back Davis was no surprise because the Maddox and Smith campaigns had been particularly antagonistic. Maddox cast Smith as a closet Republican and pawn of special interests, while Smith allies painted Maddox as an inept and self-serving party leader.

Maddox's endorsement may help Davis win over Democratic activists loyal to the former party chairman, particularly in South Florida. Also joining Smith and Davis on the conference call with reporters Friday were former Sen. Bob Graham, who reiterated his support for Davis, and Rep. Robert Wexler of Delray Beach, a former Maddox backer now supporting Davis.

"Scott's endorsement adds a whole new dimension and whole new network for Jim Davis," said Ana Cruz, a Tampa Democratic consultant who has donated to the Davis campaign.

Jeff Garcia, a Miami Democratic consultant unconnected to any campaign, downplayed the significance of Maddox's departure.

"It just opens it up a little bit," Garcia said. "Nobody knows these guys, and that's why this race is wide open."

Smith supporters have long wanted a two-person race. With polls showing about half of Democratic voters undecided, they see plenty of opportunity in a head-to-head race with Davis.

"Until now, Scott Maddox and Rod Smith were dividing the same geographic base of support. With Scott's withdrawal, Rod Smith now becomes the only North Florida candidate. The consolidation of our North Florida base along with how well Rod is doing in South and Central Florida among grass roots activists and Democratic officials is just plain good news for our campaign," said Smith's campaign manager, Paul Neaville.

To the suggestion that he should drop out and back Davis, Smith responded with a statement: "I now look forward to a one-on-one race with Congressman Davis."

None of the Democrats in the race have nearly the statewide stature of the Republican contenders, Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher. Gallagher and Crist have raised nearly $10-million combined - about five times as much as Smith and Davis.

By some estimates, Democrats would be well served having a competitive primary where the candidates are tested and introduced to voters over the coming year. Otherwise, the already well-known Republicans will consume most of the state's attention.

But Maddox and others argue that Democrats need to save the money they would be spending on a primary race to compete in the general election.

"Give me someone who has been picked by the Democratic Party, and then all of us can put our dollars into that one race," said Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, an influential party activist who earlier in the year withdrew his endorsement of Maddox amid questions of party mismanagement by Maddox. Aaronson hopes the party will have a single candidate by the time of its convention in December.

Maddox entered in May amid high hopes that a charismatic, pickup-driving former mayor would excite liberal Democratic activists and North Florida moderates alike. His ability to fire up a crowd with thundering partisan speeches, his lack of a lengthy voting record to pick apart and his statewide network made him look like a likely front-runner to many political observers.

But the Maddox campaign barely got off the ground. Within days of announcing his candidacy came revelations that as party chairman he had quietly been paid to help win support for a controversial development proposal reviled by Leon County Democrats.

A few weeks later, the Internal Revenue Service froze the party's bank account because it failed to pay about $200,000 in payroll and Social Security taxes while Maddox was chairman in 2003. Then came news that while he chaired the Leon County party last year, it paid a $10,500 fine for campaign finance violations but never reported it as required.

Maddox blamed the problems on his comptroller, a longtime friend who admitted she had made a series of major mistakes and kept them hidden from her bosses. An internal investigation questioned Maddox's hiring decisions at the party, and his campaign faced two pending complaints of alleged campaign finance violations with the Florida Elections Commission.

Maddox's withdrawal from the race came just before he was due to file a new fundraising report, which is often viewed as a sign of a candidate's strength. Maddox said his financial fundraising was "pretty decent" but did not release a number Friday.

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

[Last modified October 8, 2005, 01:27:10]