Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Briefs

Former Rep. Cosgrove dies after surgery in Africa

By Wire services
Published April 21, 2006

CUTLER BAY - John Cosgrove, Cutler Bay's mayor and a former state representative who helped keep insurance companies in Florida after Hurricane Andrew, died Wednesday after undergoing an emergency appendectomy while visiting Africa. He was 56.

Cosgrove's wife, Bernie, said he was visiting Zimbabwe with a daughter when he began having abdominal pain and was rushed to the nearest medical facility, according to friends.

Cosgrove, a lawyer, was elected in January as Cutler Bay's first mayor. A Democrat, he served as a state representative for 17 years. Following Hurricane Andrew, Cosgrove was instrumental in getting legislation passed in 1993 to keep private insurance companies from leaving South Florida.

He left the Legislature in 2000. Two years later, he unsuccessfully ran for the state Senate.

The Florida House held a moment of silence in honor of Cosgrove during its floor session Thursday.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman served in the Legislature with Cosgrove.

"He was an incredible statesman. Whether he was in Tallahassee, Washington or Miami-Dade, he always remembered the people he was representing," Heyman said. "He was fun and was just an enjoyable person to be around."

TALLAHASSEE - Republican Rep. Katherine Harris remains far behind in her bid to oust Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, a poll released Thursday shows.

Nelson was favored by 56 percent of those surveyed, compared with 27 percent who preferred Harris in the poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

A similar poll two months ago had Nelson ahead 53 percent to 31 percent.

"It's a tough environment for Republicans now," Harris said Wednesday when asked about the numbers. "I'm confident that we'll continue to only go up."

Lately, Harris' campaign has been plagued by staff defections and fundraising difficulty. Nelson has $10.3-million in his campaign account; Harris, $3.7-million.

Martinez said Wednesday the race has failed to jell for the GOP.

"She's obviously behind, the money is behind, and it's certainly a concern," Martinez said. "As long as Katherine Harris is the only candidate, the best thing we can do is be supportive and be helpful."

The telephone survey of 951 Florida registered voters was conducted April 11-17.

FOREST CITY - A Florida Lotto jackpot winner who fathered children with two women who were sisters was shot and wounded by police Thursday when he allegedly refused to drop a gun.

Robert Swofford Jr. underwent surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center, Seminole County sheriff's Lt. Dennis Lemma said. His condition was reported stabilized.

Lemma said deputies were investigating a rash of break-ins at an apartment complex near Swofford's home when they confronted him as he wielded a handgun in a field in Forest City, about 10 miles north of Orlando.

Deputies Ronnie Remus and Bill Morris Jr. ordered Swofford several times to drop the 9mm gun, but instead of doing so, Swofford "moved the firearm in a threatening manner," Lemma said Thursday. He was shot at least three times.

"We think he armed himself probably to protect his property," Lemma said. "We don't think he was involved in the burglaries."

Swofford won $60-million Lotto jackpot just before Thanksgiving of 2004 and accepted a lump sum payment of $34.7-million. He waited to claim it until reaching a divorce settlement with his wife, one of two sisters with whom he had fathered a child. He gave her more than $5.25-million and set up a $1-million certificate of deposit to provide for child support. His sister-in-law did not get any of the money, though a judge ordered Swofford to pay child support.

Swofford has since remarried his first wife.

[Last modified April 21, 2006, 01:41:14]