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Cautious Democrats delay vote on leader
By ADAM C. SMITH © St. Petersburg Times, published July 24, 1998 No date has been set yet, but Democratic Caucus Chairman John Rayson of Pompano Beach said the delay was aimed at accommodating members who complained they could not make it to Tallahassee next week. "On an issue like this, we want to maximize the participation," Rayson said. "We're trying to build unity, not create further dissension." Tampa state Rep. Les Miller, the front-runner, said he hoped the vote would take place in the second week of August. Miller has 29 committed votes, enough to make him a lock for speaker-designate. The support is not unanimous, however. Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee said he is better-equipped to unify the party, which has been engulfed in dissension since members ousted a black lawmaker, Willie Logan, as speaker-designate. Lawson notes that he has support from most of the Legislative Black Caucus, particularly members who resent Miller for remaining tight with the House members who ousted Logan. He said Friday the vote really should wait until after the November elections, since many of the people choosing the speaker-designate won't be around anymore. Miller, who also is black, could be ousted from the post in November if enough newly elected Democrats want a different leader. But Miller said that's unlikely, considering how hard he plans to work for Democratic candidates over the next few months.
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tate House Democrats, eager to avoid making their divisions even worse, are postponing their selection of a new party leader.
