Two slates of Fla. electors may vote Monday

By DIANE RADO

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 13, 2000

TALLAHASSEE -- A surreal scene will unfold in the state capital Monday, when Florida electors convene to cast their votes for president.

There will be two sets of electors in town, not one.

The Florida Democratic Party has reserved the Senate chambers in the Old Capitol building so its 25 electors will have a place to meet to cast their votes for Vice President Al Gore.

Across the courtyard, 25 Republican electors are expected to meet in the Senate chambers in the new capitol to vote for Texas Gov. George Bush.

What actually happens when the two groups convene will depend on a host of factors in what has been a roller coaster of a presidential election.

If Gore concedes before then, Democratic electors are unlikely to take any action. But they still want to come to town, said Democratic Party chairman Bob Poe, who is one of his party's 25 electors.

"I have been encouraged by a number of electors who have said we should meet in Tallahassee and at least ceremonially cast our ballots, because we believe he (Gore) won," Poe said Tuesday.

Other electors took a stronger stance.

"It will be more than ceremony," said Mitchell Berger, an elector as well as an attorney working on Gore's behalf in the court battle over the close race. "We're going to be here to vote."

The problem will come if the presidential race remains unresolved. What if a recount takes place, but that count isn't completed by the time electors are scheduled to meet on Monday? What if Gore wins the recount?

The Republican-led state House approved a slate of 25 electors on Tuesday, and the Senate is scheduled to take up the matter today.

Florida could end up sending two slates of electors to Washington, one Republican and one Democratic, said state Sen. Daryl Jones, a Democratic elector from Miami.

Democratic Sen. Buddy Dyer, an elector from Orlando, agreed: "I would anticipate that if there's any question whatsoever that the Gore slate is the appropriate slate to be counted, that we would convene and cast ballots."

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