Notes For Friday, February 21, 2003
FLORIDA ON THE CHEAP. Our Governor can say one thing and do precisely the other, and pay no price for it. Consider an editorial today in the Gainesville Sun: John Ellis "Bush likes to talk about creating an economic environment that not only creates new jobs for Floridians, but better jobs with better pay. Bush made the point once again last month during his inaugural address. 'We need to build an economy that creates not just new jobs, but better jobs; careers that enhance the quality of our lives. ...I will make it may calling to bring these jobs to this great state.'"RACE TO FILL FUTCH VACANCY. "Despite having two Republicans and a Democrat in the debate, the trio -- Kissimmee attorney Mary Beth Fitzgibbons, State. Rep. Mike Haridopolos and former Osceola County school board member Donna Hart -- agreed on far more issues than they differed on. At least on the surface." See "Candidates' views similar, but their solutions are not ". 6:01 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
GRAHAM - IT'S A GO. After weeks of delay, Senator Bob Graham said yesterday that he was "'rested, energetic and ready' to run for president, while disclosing that his open-heart surgery three weeks ago was more far-reaching than planned. Graham announced he will file the paperwork next week to begin fundraising. He said he has lined up enough contributors from Florida and elsewhere to be 'very competitive' in the growing field of Democratic candidates who seek to challenge President Bush in 2004. In his first public comments since his surgery, Graham said he was assembling a Florida-based campaign staff and set up a committee that was not exploratory: `I don't need to explore whether to go -- I'm ready to go.'"
It looks as if Graham will be getting off to a slow start: "But questions about his health and ability to wage a vigorous campaign could prove problematic for Graham. He has curtailed his Senate duties while recuperating at his daughter's home in Virginia, but returned Thursday to his Capitol Hill town home and said he will go back to work part-time next week." 5:41 AM
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ORLANDO MAYORAL RACE GETS NASTIER - FORMER EMPLOYEES SAY CANDIDATE ROUTINELY USED RACIAL SLURS. "Three former employees of Orlando mayoral candidate Pete Barr Sr. have come forward to say he routinely used racial slurs in the offices of his advertising firm when they worked there. Meanwhile, City Council members Patty Sheehan and Daisy Lynum, whom Barr has denounced since they made similar accusations two weeks ago, have offered to take lie-detector tests to back up their claims." See "Barr used slurs often, 3 ex-employees say". 5:33 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]