State: Black Democrats to meet in effort to reunify party

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Black Democrats to meet in effort to reunify party

The Orlando meeting, which is set for May 22, was called by U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek of Miami to focus on issues important to black residents.

By TIM NICKENS Times Political Editor

Florida's three African-American members of Congress will convene a meeting of black Democrats later this month in an effort to reunite the divided state party before next year's elections.

U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek of Miami, a vice chairwoman of the state party, said Tuesday that she called the meeting for May 22 in Orlando to focus attention on issues critical to black residents and to ensure Democrats are unified.

U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Fort Lauderdale and Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, the other two black Democrats in Florida's congressional delegation, also plan to speak at the meeting, Meek said. So does Doug Jamerson, the former state education commissioner and legislator from St. Petersburg.

"What I am trying to do is rebuild and revitalize African-American Democrats," Meek said.

Florida Democrats have not fully recovered from last year's ouster by white lawmakers of an African-American legislator, Rep. Willie Logan of Opa-locka, as their choice for state House speaker. The move infuriated black voters throughout the state, and Logan endorsed Republican Jeb Bush for governor.

Bush, whose attention to black communities during his campaign is considered unprecedented for a Florida Republican, received 14 percent of the black vote. That is twice the percentage he received in 1994, when he narrowly lost to incumbent Gov. Lawton Chiles.

Among the issues on Meek's agenda: the 2000 census, redistricting, an anti-affirmative action amendment to the state Constitution and the race for an open U.S. Senate seat created by Republican Connie Mack's retirement.

Meek and Florida Democratic Party Chairman Charles Whitehead said strong support from black voters is critical if the party is to take back the seat. Chiles held that Senate seat for 18 years before he decided not to seek re-election in 1988. Mack then defeated Democrat Buddy MacKay.

"We want to get that back," Meek said. "If we are able to mobilize African-American Democrats, it would help a great deal toward winning that seat."

Logan is contemplating running for the Senate seat as an independent candidate, a move that could siphon off black voters and hurt a Democrat's chances. While candidates for office are not being invited to the Orlando meeting, Meek said she asked Logan to attend.

"He asked me, "Can I come?' and I said, "Yes, are you still a Democrat?' " Meek said. "And I didn't get an answer on that one."

Logan, who has declined to publicly discuss his interest in the Senate seat, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Whitehead headed the state party in the '80s and was recruited by several elected officials to take over again last month when it became clear that fund-raising was lagging. He said the Orlando meeting was Meek's idea and that he will attend.

"She ran it by me and I encouraged her to do it," Whitehead said. "I think the wound is about 75 percent healed, but it is not completely healed."

On another front, Whitehead said he has spoken to the Rev. Jesse Jackson about coming to Florida and leading a bus caravan to encourage African-Americans to register to vote. Jackson, before heading to Kosovo, led a similar effort in Mississippi.

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