|
3 black leaders vie to unify DemocratsBy PETER WALLSTEN © St. Petersburg Times, published July 17, 1998 With the party's powerful white leadership in the House either retiring or playing behind-the-scenes roles, a consensus emerged among party loyalists Thursday that only an African-American leader could heal the wounds. The question was, which one? Late into the night, Reps. Les Miller of Tampa, Al Lawson of Tallahassee and Josephus Eggelletion of Lauderdale Lakes were working the telephones, trying to win support from fellow Democratic House members across Florida. "I'm not a savior. I'm just a human being like the rest of us," Miller said from his Tampa office. "And I'm a loyal Democrat, and I want to try to work the problems out. We're not a dead party. We've just run into some bumps." The three candidates are very different. Miller, 47, has represented his urban Tampa district in the House for six years and was a confidant of outgoing Democratic Leader Buzz Ritchie. He was winning support Thursday from white Broward County Democrats, with whom he has worked closely in the Legislature. But Miller faces an uphill battle, even if elected the leader. Since the Jan. 7 ouster of Rep. Willie Logan as the Democrats' first black leader-designate -- the event that sparked a racial rift -- Miller has been criticized by fellow black lawmakers for working with the white leaders who orchestrated the change. "I think Les has got some wounds to heal in the black caucus," Lawson said. Lawson, 49, has been in the House 16 years and says he has more support from the party's North Florida conservatives and the Legislative Black Caucus. Eggelletion, 49, was elected in 1992 in his Broward County district. He says he is a moderate who can bring the party together. Late Thursday, however, he acknowledged he did not have enough support and would likely back Lawson. Rep. John Cosgrove of Miami, who had been interested in becoming leader, said late Thursday he wanted to help an African-American candidate win the post. He offered himself as a deputy. Despite strong support for an African-American leader, however, it was clear Democrats still were in disarray. Logan and fellow Democratic Rep. Beryl Roberts-Burke of Miami, the Legislative Black Caucus chairwoman, attended a fund-raiser at a Tallahassee restaurant Thursday hosted by some of Florida's top Republicans. An estimated $50,000, including a $500 personal check from state GOP chairman Tom Slade, went to a new political action committee created by Logan in the months following his ouster. The PAC, which Logan hopes will have raised $250,000 by October, will give its money to Republican and Democratic candidates viewed as good for African-Americans. Besides Slade, attendees included a host of business lobbyists and several high-ranking GOP lawmakers. Likely Republican House Speaker John Thrasher and incoming GOP Majority Leader Jerry Maygarden also attended, along with Republican Reps. Dennis Jones of Treasure Island, Carl Littlefield of Dade City, Tom Feeney of Oviedo and Alex Villalobos of Miami. "This shows the door is open," Thrasher said. For Logan and Republicans, Thursday was a day of gushing. At a lunch speech featuring Logan, Slade donned a black satin vest and a black bow tie and approached the head table with a tray of food. "I'm your waiter," Slade said to Logan. "I'm here to serve you." Since his Jan. 7 ouster, Logan has emerged as a powerful force in state politics. He has traveled the state preaching about a revolution in the black community, where African-Americans no longer should feel loyal to the Democratic Party. Blacks may make up less than 10 percent of the electorate, but that is enough to sway entire elections. Logan has openly courted GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush while criticizing the Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay. On Thursday, Logan said he was running for re-election to the House as a Democrat, but only out of "convenience." He said he would have preferred to run as an independent, but state laws make it too difficult for independents to compete. He suggested the law be changed -- something GOP Chairman Slade agreed with. While the money was rolling in for Logan's PAC, things were not as bright for state House Democrats this week. The woman who replaced Logan in January as leader-designate, Rep. Anne Mackenzie of Fort Lauderdale, shocked her colleagues by announcing her retirement. And the party operative who for years has led the charge on fund raising left his job weeks ago, leaving candidates to fend for themselves. But even as three African-Americans vied for the party's top House job, Logan did not seem to care. "I'm supporting John Thrasher for speaker," he said when asked who he supported as Democratic leader. When asked if he supported Miller, Logan said: "Les Miller is a black man. That doesn't mean he's the best person to lead the House. This is about respect, this is not about black and white."
Business |
Citrus |
Commentary |
Entertainment
|
Home
ALLAHASSEE -- Three black lawmakers are jockeying to be the Democrats' new state House leader, each saying he can bring unity to a party mired in racial turmoil.
