Conservative voice leaves to join Forbes

The director of the state's Christian Coalition is happy to get the chance to work on a presidential campaign.

By DIANE RADO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 29, 1999

TALLAHASSEE -- As executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, John Dowless was a fixture in the halls of the Capitol during emotional debates on school prayer, abortion and other issues important to social conservatives.

But after eight years in his post, the oft-quoted voice of the religious right in Florida has resigned following a disappointing legislative session. Dowless said he has taken a job as Florida director for presidential candidate Steve Forbes' campaign.

"I had wanted to work on a presidential campaign for awhile," Dowless said Wednesday from Iowa, where he has begun working for Forbes. "I'm in total agreement with him on all issues. I think the opportunity was right."

Dowless acknowledged that "some disappointments (in the 1999 legislative session) made the decision to leave quite a bit easier."

The Christian Coalition had expected a banner year, with Republicans in control of the House and Senate and a newly elected Republican governor, Jeb Bush.

Instead, the organization lost on several key issues: The Legislature did not enact a late-term abortion ban, impose new regulations on abortion clinics, pass a law allowing students to recite prayers at public school, or change the process used to nominate judges, which the coalition hoped would lead to the appointment of more conservative judges.

The Legislature did approve a bill requiring doctors to notify the parent or guardian of a girl under 18 seeking an abortion, but a circuit court judge has ordered the state not to enforce the new law. Dowless noted that lawmakers approved some priorities of his group, including a "Choose Life" license tag, and vouchers, or taxpayer dollars, that parents can use to send their children to church-run and other private schools.

But he blamed the string of defeats on Bush as well as state lawmakers. For example, Bush's opposition to the Christian Coalition's version of a school prayer bill stalled the measure.

During the legislative session, Dowless also applied for an appointment to one of the judicial nomination commissions that interview judge's candidates and present the governor with choices. Bush declined to appoint him.

Dowless said he had already decided to go to work for Forbes -- who will challenge Bush's brother, George W. Bush -- when he got news that he was passed over for an appointment.

The Forbes campaign had contacted him in November or December, Dowless said, and he had already begun telling people during the legislative session that he would likely go with the campaign.

"My initial reaction was, "Oh no, what are we going to do without John?' He had all that energy," said Carole Griffin, legislative director for the conservative Eagle Forum in Florida.

Dowless, 31, was the Christian Coalition's first executive director in Florida, starting in Orlando in 1991. He established a presence in Tallahassee in 1995, and was known as an energetic and persistent advocate for the religious right.

On more than one occasion, he irritated moderate and liberal lawmakers who questioned why Dowless wasn't registered as a lobbyist even though he seemed to be lobbying lawmakers on issues. Dowless said he got an opinion from the Legislature saying he didn't have to register.

This past session, he butted heads with powerful House Speaker John Thrasher over a proposal to allow electronic slot machines in the state's dog tracks, horse tracks and jai alai frontons. Thrasher supported the idea, but Dowless worked successfully to kill it.

Nevertheless, Thrasher spoke Wednesday in support of the Christian Coalition's agenda and he praised Dowless. "I think John is a very aggressive, very fine young man and certainly a strong advocate for the Christian right."

The Christian Coalition would like to see Dowless return to the executive director's job after his stint with the Forbes campaign, which will end after the March presidential primaries. "No doubt, he has done a fantastic job," said Max Karrer, state chairman of the Christian Coalition. Dowless said he is leaving open that possibility.

Dowless said he will earn more than the $50,000 a year he was making at the Christian Coalition, but said the salary increase was not a factor in his decision. The Christian Coalition has appointed an acting executive director in Dowless' absence.

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