Correction: Gelber gets Buddy McKay backing, Aronberg gets sheriffs
by Dara Kam | December 17th, 2009State Sen. Dan Gelber and attorney general candidate nailed down another big-name Democratic endorsement, this time from Buddy McKay, who served as lieutenant governor under the late Gov. Lawton Chiles and briefly served as governor after Chiles’ death.
Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat and former House member, is trying to trade up for the Cabinet post just a year after he won election to the Senate.
He and colleague Dave Aronberg, a Democratic senator from Greenacres, are in a battle-of-the-endorsements.
Post On Politics had erroneously reported that the sheriffs were split on the candidates.
They are not.
Aronberg has the support of 10 Democratic sheriffs, including Palm Beach County’s own law enforcement rock star Ric Bradshaw.
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, former state education commissioner Betty Castor and former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis have all thrown their support behind Gelber.
Republicans have lined up Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson, a former House member who also served as secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, in a GOP primary race that’s been virtually silent compared to the Aronberg/Gelber contest.
They’re all vying to replace Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican who is running for governor in a primary against another senator - Paula Dockery.
Gelber’s latest political aspiration has opened up the door for yet another former senator, Gwen Margolis, to return to the chamber.
Margolis, a former Senate President, left office before being termed out to make room for Gelber. If she wins, it would be the Miami Beach-area Democrat’s second return trip to the Senate. After serving in the state House, she switched to the Senate from 1981-1992 before making a losing bid for Congress. Margolis was reelected to the Senate in 2002.
Tags: 2010 campaigns, attorney general, Bill McCollum, Dan Gelber, Dave Aronberg, elections, Florida House, Florida Senate, Holly Benson, Jeff Kottkamp, Paula Dockery
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Gelber announces the endorsements of Reno, McCay, et. al. These are “has-been” politicians who have something in common - they lost.
Aronberg announces the endorsement of 10 sitting Sheriff’s, all of whom were trusted by their constituents to be elected into the criminal justice system.
So what group of endorsers will have a greater effect on primary day?
Advantage: Aronberg
P.S. It’s interesting that the Post reporter did not mention the races these former politicians lost. Either she’s a cub reporter with no knowledge of recent political history or she’s caving to the pressure of Gelber’s whiners.
December 18th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hey Dara,
Do some more research before writing your correction. There are three major Republican candidates - you are missing Pam Bondi of Tampa.
December 20th, 2009 at 10:31 am
GELBER ROCKS! He is a great Democrat and understand what character is. The other guy is like 12 years old and talks like it too.
Real leadership is in Gelber!
December 24th, 2009 at 9:56 am
“like 12 years old and talks like it too”
Meanwhile, that 12 year old is racking up endorsements, has won the Senate seat in a district that runs through five counties and is heavily Republican. Our current Republican governor calls Senator Aronberg a “rock star”.
Not only has he worked in the Attorney General’s office, he can also quote tax code. In fact, the “Aronberg Tax Notes” are a must read and study guide for Harvard Law School students.
Dave Aronberg is bright, dedicated, and very bright. Don’t underestimate the man.