State: Legislator joins race for insurance chief

Legislator joins race for insurance chief

One day after Senate President Toni Jennings dropped out, state Rep. Joe Arnall, the House Rules Committee chairman, enters the fray.

By LUCY MORGAN

TALLAHASSEE -- State Rep. Joe Arnall, R-Jacksonville, was the first to take advantage Thursday of an unexpected opening in the race for state insurance commissioner.

Arnall, 53, opened a campaign account a day after Senate President Toni Jennings dropped out of the race.

Arnall is the owner of a Jacksonville life insurance business who has long been active in writing insurance laws and just completed two years as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee. He is one of 62 lawmakers leaving this year because of term limits.

Jennings' sudden departure from the race surprised many of her colleagues in the Legislature and started a scramble of renewed interest in the race.

Two other Republicans were already in the race: Rep. Greg Gay, R-Cape Coral, and former Rep. Tim Ireland of Fort Myers. The only Democrat in the race thus far is Rep. John Cosgrove of Miami.

Although Gay had been considering getting out of the race, he said Thursday that he will remain in the fight

Former Rep. Sandy Safley, a Republican from Safety Harbor who now lives in Tallahassee, is also considering the race. He said Thursday he has yet to make a decision.

Republican Party Chairman Al Cardenas said he believes others will get in the race by the end of this week.

This year's winner will get to serve out the two years remaining in the term won by Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson in 1998. Nelson is leaving the job to run for the U.S. Senate.

Arnall said he is not interested in seeking the chief financial officer's job in two years, but believes his 12 years of legislative experience would be valuable as the state moves to a smaller Cabinet.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 that will eliminate the job in 2003, when the duties of insurance commissioner and comptroller are combined into the chief financial officer's job.

Jennings was clearly the front runner for the Republican primary with more than $1.6-million in contributions and key endorsements from teacher unions and others.

She says she decided to leave the race because she did not want the job or want to move to Tallahassee.

But many political observers say Jennings also faced mounting questions about her relationship with lobbyist Oscar Juarez, a personal and professional friend of long standing.

Juarez's lobbying clients rose dramatically during the years Jennings served as president and chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee.

Jennings also faced trouble from some old friends: Unified Sportsmen of Florida, the state's chapter of the National Rifle Association.

A newsletter sent to NRA members in Florida last week said Jennings killed a bill that would block lawsuits against gun manufacturers after first promising to take up the measure in the final days of the session.

"We made defeating her a top priority," said Marion Hammer, lobbyist for the NRA.