With the Legislature’s redistricting road show opening tonight in South Florida, Republicans and Democratic party bosses are doing their best to play the warm-up act.
Florida GOP Chairman Dave Bitner wrote his Democratic counterpart, Rod Smith, a stinging letter Monday, ripping him for claiming current legislative and congressional district boundaries make Florida “one of the most malapportioned states in the United States.”
Bitner pointed out in his letter that Smith, then a state senator, largely supported the map-making in 2002 that created the boundaries he’s now ridiculing.
Smith also was a member of a Senate Redistricting Committee that, like this year’s version, has failed to produce any proposed maps during its public hearing tour. Past news accounts produced by Bitner also place Smith – Zelig-like – behind moves that helped him win re-election, pulling Democrats from a fellow Democrat’s district and cutting adrift voters in Marion County who wanted to be included in the Senate district he served.
Instead, these Marion County voters were divided across four Senate districts in 2002. Such fracturing and incumbent favoritism would be outlawed under two new constitutional amendments approved by voters last fall and backed by Democratic allies.
“Chairman Smith, your hypocrisy is especially troubling because you are a former member of the Florida Legislature,” Bitner wrote. “You took an oath to uphold the constitution and the laws of Florida when you were sworn into office. You promised the citizens you represented that you would act in their best interest.”
Bitner concluded, “You can stop your boisterous partisan rhetoric that belies the documented legislative record that you undeniably possess.”
Smith fired back in a letter, noting that Bitner didn’t really refute how out of whack Florida district boundaries are, and that Republican lawmakers last year vigorously fought the constitutional amendment drive aimed at making districts more compact.
“Your letter is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to distract from producing the maps and the transparency Florida voters demanded,” Smith wrote. “Instead of writing letters, your party’s leaders should be opening the backroom door and sharing the maps.
”Let’s stop the political games,” the Democrat added. “Let’s make certain the will of the people is implemented by this very unwilling Republican Legislature.”
The Legislature’s current redistricting public hearing tour resumes tonight in Stuart, at the Blake Library, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lawmakers move to Boca Raton Tuesday morning, for a hearing at Florida Atlantic University, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith suspended Leon County State Committeeman Jon Ausman through next year’s presidential contest, but stopped short Wednesday of following a party panel’s recommendation that he be tossed off the executive committee.
Ausman has been under fire for taking sides in party primary contests in Leon County and also for backing Jeff Greene, who paid for his campaign work, over Kendrick Meek in last summer’s Democratic U.S. Senate contest.
A party disciplinary committee voted 5-1 May 2 to recommend Ausman’s removal for “conduct of such an outrageous nature as to violate the understood professional standards of our party.”
But Smith, in his ruling, seemed to look for a middle ground.
Instead, Smith ordered that Ausman be suspended from party activities until Dec. 1, 2012, although he would “entertain a petition for reinstatement,” after June 1.
“In support of my decision to mitigate, I have considered the best interests of the FDP and I find that a permanent removal should be avoided if a lesser penalty will send a sufficient message to the offender and deter such conduct in the future,” Smith wrote.
Ausman has been a Democratic activist for more than 30 years, holding a number of leadership posts within the party.
He also has an encyclopedic understanding of party rules — a skill he has used frequently in past party battles, including the 2008 delegate fight stemming from Florida’s presidential primary that violated national party rules.
Asked whether he would accept the suspension — and a Smith olive branch, Ausman said, “I’m thinking about it. I will probably do a press conference soon.”
UPDATE: A spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott responded to his withdrawal of redistricting amendments for federal approval.
“Consistent with Governor Scott’s effort to assess the rules, regulations and contracts of the previous administration, he has withdrawn the letter requesting a DOJ review of Amendments 5 and 6. Census data has not been transmitted to the state yet and the Legislature will not undertake redistricting for months, so this withdrawal in no way impedes the process of redrawing Florida’s legislative and congressional districts,” Scott spokesman Brian Hughes said in an e-mail.
In his first few days on the job, Gov.Rick Scott quietly withdrew the state’s request for a federal go-ahead to move forward with two redistricting amendments overwhelmingly approved by voters in November.
Scott sent the request to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has to sign off on any changes to Florida elections laws affecting voters’ rights, on Jan. 7, just two days after he announced the reappointment of Department of State Secretary Kurt Browning. After Browning left Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration last year, he headed up a political committee that fought Amendments 5 and 6, aka the “Fair Districts” amendments. Crist’s temporary secretary of the state department submitted the application for “preclearance” to DOJ officials on Dec. 10
Scott’s move, offered with no explanation to the feds and no public announcement, left Democrats and supporters of the amendments hopping mad, and the state’s top Democrat is demanding Scott resubmit the preclearance application.
Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel is giving up his pursuit of the Florida Democratic Party chairmanship and endorsing former state Sen. Rod Smith, who on Tuesday announced the support of Sen. Bill Nelson and some other big-name Dems.
“Rod Smith has set the stage for our rebirth as a modern, inclusive grassroots party which can fulfill the hopes and dreams of its many dedicated workers and constituencies,” Siegel said in a statement released by Smith.
Smith’s main rival for the job now appears to be Tallahassee City Commissioner and People For the American Way Foundation operative Andrew Gillum, who anticipated Siegel’s endorsement this morning and downplayed its significance.
“This race is about more than doing whatever it takes to seal one or two endorsements, it’s about giving the Florida Democratic Party the fresh start we need to win elections,” Gillum said. “I respect the senior members of our party, but I believe that we are in a new era that demands an open process that will energize our base.”
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar and U.S. Rep.-elect Frederica Wilson of Miami are among the big-name Dems who are backing former state Sen. Rod Smith for Florida Democratic Party chairman, Smith announced today.
Smith, Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel, Hillsborough County Democratic Committeeman Alan Clendenin and Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum are running for state chairman. The election is expected in January.
“I believe I’ll be the appointee,” said Smith, a Gainesville-area former prosecutor who most recently was Alex Sink’s running-mate in her losing bid for governor.
His bid to replace Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman, who is retiring, got a boost yesterday when an officer of the Alachua County party stepped down to make room for Smith.
Smith would have to be elected the chairman of the county executive committee or state committee man before he can be eligible to run as head of the FDP.
Once that happens, Smith said he’ll continue to build support from activists, donors and other county leaders.
“It’s a process that’s ongoing. It sometimes appears slow and ponderous but it’s an important process that allows people to have input about their concerns,” Smith, 61, said.
Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel last week was ready to stand aside for former state Sen. Rod Smith in the race for state Democratic chairman.
But with Smith no longer seen as the slam dunk he appeared to be for a couple days last week, Siegel today says he’s all in.
“I think I’m a very viable candidate,” said Siegel, who must win reelection to his county chairmanship on Dec. 2 to be eligible for the state post.
What’s changed since last week?
“I became convinced that I really have something to offer that’s different than he does. It seems that, regrettably, his candidacy is kind of stalling. That hasn’t diminished my admiration for him at all,” Siegel said.
Some Democrats are pulling together a serious challenge to former state Sen. Rod Smith’s bid to succeed Karen Thurman as head of the Florida Democratic Party.
A handful of major South Florida donors are pushing Joe Garcia, a Miami lawyer and former Public Service Commissioner who just lost a Congressional race to David Rivera.
Dems backing Garcia want a Hispanic in charge of the party to help corral Latino voters who were so crucial to President Obama’s election two years ago.
Watch to see if Garcia gets added to the Miami-Dade County Democratic Executive Committee over the next few weeks.
Garcia would have to join the DEC and get elected the chairman or state committee man before he can run as head of the FDP. That means one of the two Democrats who hold those posts would have to resign to make room for Garcia.
Former state Sen. Rod Smith will announce Monday he’s ready to take over the helm of the Florida Democratic Party as a replacement for Karen Thurman, who resigned today.
Smith, just off the campaign trail after running as Alex Sink’s running mate in her losing bid for governor, said he’s trying to build a consensus among Democrats smarting from major losses in this month’s elections in Florida and nationally.
Apart from Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s victory, Republicans swept the Florida Cabinet and nailed down a veto-proof super-majority in both the state House and Senate.
“I’m going to try to create a culture of success,” said Smith, a Gainesville lawyer and former prosecutor who earned a reputation as a dynamic orator during his tenure as a state senator.
Smith said he’s trying to get the support of a handful of other Democrats who’ve thrown their hats in the ring to replace Karen Thurman, who resigned today.
“I want to be a unifier. I don’t want to create division,” said Smith, a “This isn’t like a lot of campaigns. This is about trying to make sure that you first do no harm. Right now I’m focusing on trying to convince people that this is the right thing to do for me and for the party but I also remain open to listening to people’s concerns.”
Smith, who’s got behind-the-scenes backing of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, said he’s already won the support of Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel, who said Friday he’ll support Smith’s bid.
Whoever takes over for Thurman has their work cut out for them, said Broward County Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar. (more…)
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman is stepping down after the drubbing Democrats received on Election Day in the Sunshine State and throughout the nation.
Democrats have been demanding Thurman’s resignation after Republicans swept the Cabinet, the governor’s race and secured a veto-proof majority in both the state House and Senate.
Only 51 Democrats remain in the 160 seats in the legislature although Democratic voters still outnumber Republicans in Florida.
Former state Sen. Rod Smith, who was losing gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink’s running-mate, is chief among those in line to replace Thurman, a former U.S. Rep. who’s served as chairwoman for six years.
Democrat Alex Sink’s running mate says Republican Rick Scott’s repeated invocations of President Obama “as a metaphor for all things liberal” won’t work in Florida governor’s race.
Rod Smith, the former state Senator who is Sink’s lieutenant governor pick, says Scott keeps bringing up Obama — including the term “Obama math” in Wednesday night’s debate — because he’s afraid to discuss the issues and his own past, which includes $1.7 billion in Medicare fraud fines paid by Scott’s former hosptial chain.
Liberal metaphor
“He is trying to link Alex Sink and Rod Smith to everything Obama — that’s his clear strategy. And the fact is that Alex is a fiscal conservative and I’ve probably been considered the most conservative Democrat in elected office in the last several years. So that’s not going to work,” Smith said while campaigning in West Palm Beach this morning with U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton.
“He has to try to nationalize this election. He has no plan for Florida and he has no record to run on,” Smith said.
Democratic governor candidate Alex Sink formally introduced former state Sen. Rod Smith as her running mate today at a crowded Police Benevolent Association hall in West Palm Beach.
Smith, an attorney, said his oldest son, who’s also an attorney, was busy this morning “explaining to judges why I won’t be there for the next several weeks and months.”
“And years,” added Sink.
Smith pounded hard on the economy and on the fact that Republicans have effectively controlled the legislature since 1996 and the governor’s mansion since 1998 (except for the past four months, when Gov. Charlie Crist shed his GOP affiliation to go independent).
“It’s time Florida changes and it needs to be changed now,” Smith said.
Alex Sink will bring her Democratic campaign for governor to West Palm Beach on Thursday to announce Rod Smith as her running mate, The Palm Beach Post has learned.
Sink’s campaign wouldn’t confirm anything other than to say they’ll be in the city for a “special announcement” at 10 a.m. We reached Smith, a former state senator from Gainesville and a 2006 gubernatorial candidate, who tried to change the subject to the Florida Marlins.
“I’m not talking about my travel plans or when I’ll be there,” Smith said when we asked if he’d be in West Palm Beach on Thursday.
But several sources confirmed that Smith will be the announcement.
The location and timing of the announcement are of particular interest.
Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell is endorsing Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, for attorney general. That’s a strong indication that Darnell’s friend and former hometown state Senator, Rod Smith, will not run for AG in 2010.
Smith is the former state attorney who prosecuted Gainesville serial killer Danny Rolling before becoming a state Senator and losing a 2006 Democratic primary for governor. He has been considering the AG race and would be considered a formidable candidate because of his statewide name-identification.
Smith today stopped short of saying he won’t run for AG, but noted that he talked to Darnell before she endorsed Aronberg.
“I have not made any announcement on this, but certainly when my friends are announcing their support for other people, it can be assumed that most of them don’t think I’m going to be running,” Smith said.
Democractic activist Joan Joseph poses in her Lake Worth office before the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where she served as a delegate. (Cydney Scott/Palm Beach Post)
UPDATE: Democratic activist and prolific lensman Rick Neuhoff has posted a large collection of photos of Joan Josephhere.Also, a memorial pagehas been set up here.
Joan Joseph, a Jupiter resident who was a key political operative for candidates from Barack Obama to West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, died early today of cancer.
Mrs. Joseph, 64, was a go-to figure for Democratic candidates seeking to build a grass-roots organization in Florida. She was a paid staffer in Palm Beach County for Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, then was the statewide coordinator of volunteers for John Kerry’s 2004 campaign.
When Barack Obama launched his presidential bid in early 2007 as a decided underdog, Mrs. Joseph was a key early organizer in Florida.
“She was one of the first people that we went to for Obama” in Florida, said Kirk Wagar, who was the Obama campaign’s Florida finance chairman. Obama’s first major Florida event, a March 2007 “low-dollar” fund-raiser that drew about 1,000 people to the Palm Beach County Convention Center, was largely put together by Mrs. Joseph, Wagar said.
Gelber recently dropped his U.S. Senate bid in the name of party unity and said he hoped that he, Aronberg and Rod Smith could avoid a messy Democratic primary for attorney general.
“My hope was that there would be time for all of us to be thoughtful and to unify, but given Senator Aronberg’s decision, I will my announce my plans soon,” Gelber said.
and a protege of popular former Democratic attorney general Bob Butterworth, state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, announced today he’ll run for attorney general in 2010.
Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican, is running for governor in 2010. Several Democrats and Republicans have been eyeing his job.
State Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, sidestepped a U.S. Senate primary over the weekend but may be headed into a three-Democrat battle for the party’s attorney general nomination.
Gelber, state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and former Democratic state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua are all continuing to explore runs for the state’s top legal post in 2010. Incumbent AG Bill McCollum is running for governor.
The three potential Democratic candidates have talked extensively to each other over the last few weeks about avoiding a primary, but so far none has ruled out running.
“When we get into these primaries, it tends to become a circular firing squad,” Gelber said today.
Power lawyer George LeMieux, former chief of staff to Gov. Charlie Crist and former deputy attorney general when Crist was AG, notes in his latest online political newsletter that he’s a potential candidate for AG now that incumbent Bill McCollum is poised to run for governor.
LeMieux lists Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and state Rep. Tom Grady as potential Republican candidates, then notes: “Yours truly has also been mentioned as a contender, having served three years as Deputy Attorney General – the number two legal officer in the state.”
LeMieux’s prediction: “The AG’s race will be wide open.”
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