State: Democrats keep rhetoric civil at union gathering

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Democratic candidates vying to oppose Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002 barely mentioned his name Monday as they attempted to woo support from organized labor.

The announced candidates, their number reduced to four with the departure last week of former Vietnam ambassador Pete Peterson, spoke to the annual convention of the state AFL-CIO.

It was the candidates' first gathering since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and they all tried to show their reverence for the country's mood while still pointing out their differences with the Republican governor. For the most part, they avoided pointed political jabs.

"I think we're all sensitive to the fact that this is not the time and place for finger-pointing, name-calling and partisan rhetoric," said House Democratic leader Lois Frankel, 53, a West Palm Beach Democrat known for her fiery personality. "Maybe this is a new era of civility. I was able to get my point out today, and I didn't have to mention any other politician's name."

One or two of the candidates took pot shots at Gov. Bush's reforms, especially his education programs. Former Attorney General Janet Reno, 63, said teachers are not adequately compensated and the state focuses too much on the FCAT. "If you want to fatten the cat, you don't weigh it, you feed it," she said.

And Tampa lawyer Bill McBride, who has taken a leave of absence from the Holland & Knight firm, criticized Bush's "A plus" school accountability program, saying the governor tries to take bad programs and give them good names.

McBride was the only candidate to mention Bush by name.

"I know Jeb Bush," McBride, 56, said. "I've been on podiums with him. I've sized him up, and I can take him."

In response, Bush campaign manager Karen Unger defended Bush's education programs. She said in a telephone interview that Bush has set aside the largest three-year funding increase of any governor, $2.4-billion in additional dollars for the "A plus" school accountability program.

Still, the tone of this gathering was noticeably different from previous gatherings, where the candidates slammed Bush and his record on education, race relations, tax breaks and the environment. Instead, some of the politicians used the opportunity to reflect on what had happened in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

"After Sept. 11, I'm concerned about what happened in this country, and I'd like to talk about being an American," said Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, 33, who is considering entering the race now that Peterson is out.

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State Sen. Daryl Jones, 46, a Miami Democrat, said state leaders must respond to the attacks.

"We've got to prepare the state in the short and long term to withstand what happened (two weeks ago)," Jones said.

The audience of union organizers was itself boisterous, cheering the candidates when they criticized some of Bush's policies. But some union members appreciated that the attacks have caused politicians to soften rhetoric for now.

"I think (the terrorist bombing) is playing a critical part in how campaigns are being perceived as far as partisan politics," said Debra Booth, president of the Central Florida branch of the AFL-CIO. "I think there's a lot of pressure on them to make sure they're saying the right things and doing the right things."

As for McBride, whose criticisms were the sharpest, he said he's simply talking about the issues.

"Right now the state of Florida has got a ton of problems, and someone has got to start addressing them," McBride said.

The AFL-CIO, which represents 500,000 workers in Florida, will not endorse one of the candidates until its endorsing convention next June. It is one of the more sought-after endorsements for a Democratic candidate.

One criteria: compete with Bush's formidable campaign fundraising. Another: take on Bush's policies that have angered many unionized state workers.

"You're going to have to be able to raise significant funds to take out Jeb Bush," said Booth.

The AFL-CIO is opposed to Bush's "Service First" law, which removed job protections for certain state government workers.

Reno, for one, criticized the law.

"I'm concerned because I've been a state employee for a long time, and I don't like the way they're being treated. My experience is that state workers do a remarkable job for the people of this state day in and day out," said Reno.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk