With friends like these . . .

By LUCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 5, 2000

Florida's Republicans have spent a lot of time trying to persuade Democrats in the Legislature to switch parties.

Since Republicans gained control of the House and Senate in 1996, several Democrats have switched. Most of them have been conservatives who were already voting with the GOP but had remained with the D's as long as they were in control. By switching they remained close to power.

Two of them might be having a few second thoughts.

Reps. Everett Kelly of Tavares and Harry Goode of Melbourne are running for the Senate. Term limits forced both of them to end long careers in the House this year.

And so they set out to carry their new party labels across the Capitol to the Senate, presuming that they would be welcome.

Now they find they are almost outcasts, running against candidates who are being supported and financed by the GOP establishment.

Kelly is opposing Sen. Anna Cowin, R-Leesburg. He was a little surprised to see $12,000 in Republican Party funds dumped into the coffers of his opponent for a primary in which the party usually remains neutral.

Goode hasn't found any state party money helping his opponent, Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, but he is encountering a few familiar faces on the campaign trail.

It seems that Posey has the support and help of Sen. Dan Webster, R-Ocoee, and House Speaker-to-be Tom Feeney, two of the people who encouraged Goode to switch parties.

The situation makes for a lot of nervous lobbyists. They don't want to anger the future leaders of the House and Senate by supporting the wrong guy, and they don't want to bet on a horse that might lose the race.

It would appear that the lobbyists are putting their money on Cowin and Posey. In her last report, Cowin had collected $250,095 -- several times the $78,050 Kelly reported receiving.

Posey has collected $181,094 -- more than twice the $75,380 that Goode reports receiving.

The money is coming from all the usual suspects -- the lobbyists and businesses who need votes in the Capitol.

Sen. John McKay, R-Bradenton, the man who expects to be Senate president in November if Republicans retain control of the chamber, says all four candidates in the two races have pledged to support him.

McKay said the party money went to Cowin because he had promised the support before he realized Kelly would be opposing her.

"Everett understands my reason for that and respects it," McKay said Friday.

Although disappointed to see the money from his adopted party pouring into an opponent's account, Kelly does say he is satisfied with the explanation.

But he wistfully recalls the day in 1997 when he switched parties with legislative leaders and Gov. Jeb Bush all standing with him in his hometown.

Kelly isn't without supporters -- he's getting help from Senate Majority Leader Jack Latvala, who makes no secret of his dislike for Cowin.

Feeney says he has endorsed Posey, but done little else.

"We are longtime friends," Feeney said. "It would be like turning your back on a brother."

Goode says he isn't very happy about the situation "but that's the way they play this game."

Some of his constituents are disturbed at the amount of money pouring into his opponent's race from outsiders.

"I say, do you want doctors from Fort Lauderdale picking your next senator?" Goode adds.

Goode, who switched parties in 1998 has always been a bit independent. If he wins, he's likely to get more independent.

Next time the Republicans try to win converts, the Democrats are sure to remember Goode and Kelly -- whoever wins in September.

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