Gallagher, Davis jostle for veterans
By Times Staff
Published May 29, 2006
All the major gubernatorial candidates are honoring Memorial Day, but only one - Republican Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher - actually served in the military. Gallagher served in the Presidential Honor Guard in the U.S. Army.
"Our traditional mission was to defend our nation's Capitol, but we also had the solemn duty of presiding over military funerals in Arlington National Cemetery. I was assigned to Company E (the Honor Guard) which also had the responsibility of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Since 1966, for me, Memorial Day has been much more than just a three-day weekend; the service and sacrifice of our veterans is something I'll always honor," Gallagher wrote in an e-mail to supporters in which he also announced more than 130 people on a his statewide "Veterans for Gallagher" coalition.
Democratic candidate Jim Davis announced his own dozen-member "Veterans for Davis" organization, and his campaign dubbed him the only gubernatorial candidate "who is directly responsible for and has experience with military affairs" because his district includes MacDill Air Force Base and U.S. Central Command.
"Jim has been a powerful and loyal advocate for the 4,000 military families who live in his district and work at MacDill AFB," said Admiral "Gil" Guilbault.
McBRIDE'S MILLIONS: Katherine Harris gave her long-shot rivals for the Republican nomination a giant assist by putting in $3-million of her own money. That triggered the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's "millionaire's amendment," increasing the contribution caps of her primary rivals from $2,100 to $12,600 per individual. Candidate and former Housing and Urban Development Department official Peter Monroe of Pinellas, for instance, says he will have raised $250,000 by the end of this week.
But Monroe raised an interesting question about Orlando attorney Will McBride. Since McBride's father-in-law owns more than 100 Christian-radio stations, a lot of people are wondering whether McBride will wind up putting millions of family money in the race. He hasn't said but for now is embracing the millionaire's amendment to solicit donations up to $12,600 a pop.
"If he's taking advantage of the millionaire's amendment raising $12,600 from everybody and then throws in $5-million from his married wealth, that to me is unethical," said Monroe, who said he is seeking a formal opinion from the Federal Election Commission. LeRoy Collins Jr. of Tampa is the other Republican running.
SMITH SUPPORT: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith last week won the endorsement of the Teamsters Joint Council 75, representing nearly 25,000 Floridians, and Buzz hears the Florida Professional Firefighters, which works in 175 departments across the state, is about to get behind Smith, too.
"Rod Smith is the straight-talking leader who will fight for Florida's working men and women," said Ken Wood, Teamsters Joint Council 75 President. "We are proud to stand with Rod Smith and will fight to make sure he is our next Governor."
Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Buzz. For more political news check out http://www.sptimes.com/ blogs/buzz.