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Democrats need a leader to rally them

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published March 24, 2006

The East Hillsborough Democrats group met in Valrico last week, and contrary to what some may think, the meeting was not held in a phone booth.

No, the group met at the Valrico Recreation Center and totaled nearly 60 people. Not a staggering number, but quite frankly, more than I expected in an area so red John Kerry won only two precincts in the 2004 presidential election.

After all, isn't gathering East Hillsborough Democrats sort of like bringing together Bucs fans in Green Bay, Wis.?

The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, but I thought Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone would have been more appropriate.

Garry Miracle, who helped organize the meeting, has heard it all before. When he canvasses neighborhoods, knocking on the doors of registered Democrats, fellow party members tell him they feel like the only Democrat in East Hillsborough.

"No," Miracle often responds, "there's actually 10 other Democrats living in your neighborhood."

Miracle, a local attorney, said the numeric difference between registered Republicans and registered Democrats in our area is not the chasm many imagine it to be.

Slightly more than 40 percent of those voters are Republicans, while slightly below 40 percent are Democrats, Miracle said.

Of course, it's hard not to believe that Democrats are an endangered species in these parts. Our three state legislators, two county commissioners and two U.S. Congress members are Republican, and Brandon's Tom Lee is president of the Republican-controlled state Senate and one of the state GOP's top leaders.

Despite such dominance, the Democrats who gathered at the recreation center were encouraged instead of discouraged. They said they were "appalled" by the Bush White House and "horrified" at the direction of the country.

They were a group ready to be inspired, and on this night, that task fell to Luis Navarro, executive director of the state Democratic Party. He came from Tallahassee with a theme: Put Floridians first because security begins at home.

The party has plenty of political policies that differ from the Republicans', Navarro said, but a message is needed to distinguish Democrats.

"A message has to be something that unites folks on our side and causes cleavages on their side," Navarro said. "The idea is to come up with a theme that not only reflects the values of folks here in Hillsborough County, but reflects the values of our clubs in Dixie County, Gulf County, Okeechobee County, as well as Miami, as well as Palm Beach, as well as Pensacola.

"That's a pretty disparate group of folks."

Clearly, the challenges before Democrats locally and throughout the state are difficult, but Navarro laid out a plan where each person in the room could help. He clearly has a grasp of state and national issues, and an understanding of how the Democrats may win back the state.

He also knows what it could mean if Democrats succeed in Florida.

"If we're able to crack the code here in 2006, it is the road map for victory around this country," Navarro said.

Sure, a message is important, but Navarro and his party also struggle to find local candidates who can truly inspire people. Before Navarro spoke, the group was greeted by four people seeking various offices.

With all due respect, they were not people who riveted the crowd with oratorical skills. One experienced politico in attendance even bluntly told the candidates that they need to prepare better.

Of the four, only Mary Mulhern, who is running for the District 1 County Commission seat, generated enthusiasm. She spoke with authority about various issues and was interrupted by applause on three occasions.

The other candidates seemed like nice people who mean well, but it'll take more than a kind heart for a Democrat to win a seat in this area.

More than ever, East Hillsborough Democrats need someone who can galvanize people. They need candidates who will inspire party members to reach into their wallets, not just nod their heads in agreement. They need someone who actually can win, because there is at least one registered Democrat in this area - that would be me - who wonders if he would be better off registering as a GOP member and voting for the more moderate Republican.

Is that what party politics has come to in East Hillsborough?

For now, local Democrats need one person to succeed, whether it's Thonotosassa's Alex Sink, who is running statewide for chief financial officer, or Stephen Gorham, who faces an uphill battle to win the state Senate seat being vacated by Lee, or Phyllis Busansky, who is running against Gus Bilirakis for his father's District 9 congressional seat.

Or maybe the inspiration will come from Jim Davis or Rod Smith, the two Democrats vying to be Florida's next governor. If just one can win, more legitimate candidates will be inspired to run.

But until a Democratic candidate proves it can be done, the party will struggle to channel the anger and outrage into a meaningful movement.

At least in our part of the world.

That's all I'm saying.

Ernest Hooper also writes a column for the Tampa & State section of the St. Petersburg Times. He can be reached at 226-3506 or hooper@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 24, 2006, 11:02:26]