Tampabay: An unsure Rep. Davis seeks funds

Still, Davis' quasi-campaign veered into new territory Thursday when he opened a campaign account for governor. He hopes to raise money while he makes up his mind.

"This is an intensely personal decision that I am about to make," said Davis, who promises to decide before Labor Day. "All I can say is I am quite serious about this."

The prospect of Davis sacrificing his congressional seat to join an already-crowded gubernatorial race is hard for some Democrats to stomach. And his waffling is giving some party leaders and supporters more gray hairs.

"It's insanity!" shouted Mike Scionti, the Hillsborough Democratic Party chairman, who has all but begged Davis to stay out of the governor's race.

"We've got great candidates that have put their names in. As outstanding a congressman as he is, his place is in the Congress."

Davis joins four other Democratic candidates who also opened campaign accounts: House Minority Leader Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach, state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami, Tampa lawyer Bill McBride and retired ambassador to Vietnam Douglas "Pete" Peterson.

Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox are still testing the waters without opening accounts.

While Davis ponders, would-be candidates already are lining up for the chance to run for his congressional seat, which covers much of Tampa and parts of suburban Hillsborough.

"Obviously, I'm very interested," said state Rep. Bob Henriquez, a Democrat.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible Davis replacements are Deputy Attorney General George Sheldon, former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ben Wacksman, and Francisco Sanchez, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation under President Clinton.

"Oh, there are lot of names bouncing around -- mine included," said former state Sen. John Grant, a Carrollwood Republican now on the staff of the governor's office.

Said former Hillsborough Chief Circuit Judge F. Dennis Alvarez: "I heard that my name had been mentioned as a possible candidate." Alvarez said he is not interested.

State Rep. Chris Hart Jr. said his father, Republican County Commissioner Chris Hart, also is considering a run. "I'm trying to convince my dad to run for that slot," he said. "I think he'd be great at it."

Reapportionment by the Republican-controlled Legislature could give the GOP an edge in Davis' district and make it tough for any Democrat to win the seat, said Margie Kincaid, Hillsborough Republican Party chairwoman. "We're just waiting on pins and needles to see how the lines are drawn," Kincaid said.

Besides Hart, state Rep. Sandra Murman, R-Tampa, also has been approached about running for Davis' seat, Kincaid said.

A member of the state House before winning his congressional seat in 1996, Davis said he has focused mainly on talking to "parents, teachers and principals about how to get the state back on the right course."

He'll be making trips to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and Orlando in coming days, he said. But some suggest he's jumping into the mix too late. Others are concerned that two candidates from Tampa would split support.

Said former Tampa mayor Sandy Freedman, who lost to Davis in 1996: "I certainly have not heard Democrats in this part of the state say, "Run, Jim, Run.' "

Scionti is beside himself.

"He did the same thing when he ran for Congress a few terms ago," Scionti said. "He waited and waited and waited. He ended up having all the Democrats in Hillsborough County waging war against each other."

-- Times staff writer Steve Bousquet and researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Kathryn Wexler can be reached at (813) 226-3383.

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