A Times Editorial

Good decisions since Coe's death

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 22, 2000

Even as they eulogized Harry Lee Coe, some of his so-called friends were scheming to become Hillsborough's next state attorney. But as tacky as the politics became, the maneuvering would have turned out worse had Gov. Jeb Bush succumbed to his predecessors' practice of meddling in local politics. By not interfering, Bush made it possible for prosecutors to do their jobs, laid the groundwork for a fair election to replace Coe and raised the hope that Hillsborough voters may clean the Tampa judiciary.

Bush has made three good decisions in the week since Coe's death. He insisted the state would continue its probe into loans Coe took from his employees, an investigation the governor set in motion July 12, hours before Coe committed suicide. Bush also appointed an outside prosecutor, Bernie McCabe, the state attorney for Pinellas-Pasco, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Coe's death. Finally, the governor chose an interim state attorney who can lead the office for the next six months without skewing the election to choose a permanent replacement for Coe.

The governor's moves were significant for several reasons. Many questions remain about Coe's conduct in office. His death only intensifies the need for investigators to clarify what pressures Coe may have been facing in his final days. By choosing McCabe, Bush lessens the chance that courthouse politics in Tampa will corrupt the investigation. McCabe is competent and thorough, and he knows the landscape in Tampa. Yet his detachment from Tampa politics will be a help in getting insiders to talk.

But nothing was as constructive as Bush's refusal to fast-track a successor for Coe. Even before Coe's funeral, Hillsborough Chief Judge F. Dennis Alvarez was floating his name for the job. Has the tradition of musical chairs at the courthouse killed even the facade of propriety? A sitting judge has an obvious conflict panning for a job to oversee the very lawyers appearing in his court. Alvarez even acknowledged he wouldn't seek election unless the governor handed him the power of incumbency first.

Bush was right to reject the entitlement game. What Hillsborough needs as Coe's life goes under the microscope is a state attorney who has the judgment to inspire confidence among the public and the staff.

Friday was the deadline for candidates to qualify for the November elections. Bush kept the field open by withholding until just after the filing deadline the appointment of Tampa lawyer Jack Rudy to serve the remaining months of Coe's term. Rudy appears to be a safe choice as a caretaker. For Bush, it was the last of several responsible steps on the long road to making Hillsborough's courthouse open, honest and accountable.

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