Mixson eyed as Cabinet fill-in

The former lieutenant governor's name surfaces as a potential agriculture commissioner.

By DIANE RADO

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 6, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Former Lt. Gov. Wayne Mixson is best known for serving three days as Florida's governor in 1987, when Bob Graham resigned to be sworn in as a U.S. senator.

These days, his political career could be revived.

The 78-year-old Democrat's name is being thrown into the mix of possible appointees for the post of Florida Agriculture Commissioner, as pressure mounts on Gov. Jeb Bush to fill the job.

Current Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford is expected to resign the Cabinet post to take a higher-paying job at the Department of Citrus. Bush will have to appoint someone to serve the remaining two years of Crawford's term.

The governor faces a political dilemma: He's being pressured by the Florida Democratic Party to appoint a Democrat -- a way to mend divisions in the state following the battle over the presidency. The governor also is faced with picking between two Republicans who want the agriculture job and had planned to run for it in 2002: Sen. John Laurent, R-Bartow, and Sen. Charles Bronson, R-Satellite Beach. Either man would have the advantage in 2002 if he got to serve in the appointed job for two years.

A solution now being discussed is to appoint someone who has no aspirations to run for the agriculture job but is an able administrator with knowledge of agriculture issue. Mixson's name has been offered in that scenario.

A state lawmaker before serving as lieutenant governor between 1979 and 1987, Mixson was born on a farm and has farming interests in Jackson County in north Florida. A conservative Democrat, he supported Republican Jeb Bush for governor, and his brother, George. W. Bush, for the presidency.

Mixson could not be reached for comment Friday, but those who know him believe he would enjoy returning to public service. "I think he'd jump at it," said Jim Smith, a former attorney general and secretary of state who ran unsuccessfully for agriculture commissioner in 1994.

"Gov. Mixson would be an excellent choice," said former state senator Rick Dantzler, a Democrat who is considering running for the job in 2002.

Sen. Laurent said he had heard speculation that Bush could appoint someone not interested in running for the Agriculture job. "That would surprise me that the governor would just pick a place holder, but who knows," Laurent said.

Recent coverage

Shift in Cabinet may only be start (January 4, 2001)

GOP to celebrate 4-2 majority on Cabinet (January 3, 2001)

Democrats may lose agriculture post (December 20, 2000)

Election brawl could leave officials with political scars (December 6, 2000)

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