Bob Graham named campaign chairman for Jim Davis' run for FL governor

06.02.2006

TAMPA –Candidate for governor and Democratic frontrunner Jim Davis today named former Florida Governor and US Senator Bob Graham Chairman of his campaign. Graham, among Florida's most influential Democratic leaders, was the first former statewide elected official to endorse Davis's campaign for governor, saying, "I have taken the measure of the man, and he is ready for the job."

Since then, Graham has campaigned across Florida and raised money on behalf of Davis's campaign. As Chairman, Graham will provide strategic advice as a leader who knows what it takes to win statewide elections in Florida and knows what it takes to represent the interests of working families.

snip

Davis thanked Graham for taking a high-profile role in his campaign for governor and vowed to take his style of leadership back to the state capital.

"I am proud to have the support of a leader like Bob Graham, who has dedicated his career to public service and to Keeping Florida's Promise to our children, seniors and families," said Davis. "He and I agree that the best ideas and solutions come from Florida's people, not politicians.

snip

A Quinnipiac University poll shows Davis leading his Democratic challenger, state Sen. Rod Smith, 38 to 17 percent, and Republicans State Attorney General Charlie Crist and state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, 40 to 37 percent. About 20 percent of voters remain undecided.

The best day in Jim Davis' campaign for governor must have been the one when Bob Graham, the former governor, U.S senator, presidential candidate and author, said he would bestow his endorsement.

Sort of a professor emeritus for Florida Democrats, Graham's is the top individual endorsement for a statewide Democratic candidate.

TAMPA - In an impressive display of the political strength of his campaign for governor, Jim Davis today announced the names of 81 community and political leaders from North Florida who have signed on to support his run for governor. The group, which includes former elected officials, Republicans, state representatives, county commissioners, mayors and union presidents,...

snip

"Jim is the kind of leader with the kind of values that appeal to Florida conservatives who want a governor who will strengthen our state's economy and keep the government out of our private affairs," said Pete Carpenter, a Republican businessman and former Bush fundraiser from Jacksonville.

snip

"I am honored to have the strong support of so many distinguished leaders from rural, suburban and urban communities in North Florida," Jim Davis said. "This show of support is an endorsement of the values and priorities that we share, and I'm grateful for their support for our campaign to Keep Florida's Promise."

US Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Jacksonville
Former Governor Buddy MacKay, Ocala
Former First Lady Anne MacKay, Ocala
Former Congressman and Ambassador Pete Peterson, Marianna
Former Gubernatorial Candidate and Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox
State Representative Loranne Ausley, Tallahassee
State Representative Curtis Richardson, Tallahassee
State Representative Audrey Gibson, Jacksonville
Former State Senate President Mallory Horne, Jasper
Former Democratic House Leader Buzz Ritchie, Pensacola
Former State Senator Richard Mitchell, Hamilton County
Former State Representative Ed Fortune, Pace
Former State Representative Scott Clemons, Panama City
Former State Representative Kelley Smith, Palatka
Former State Representative Doug Wiles, Saint Augustine
Former State Representative Tracy Upchurch, Saint Augustine
Former State Representative John Robert Middlemas, Panama City
Baker County Commissioner Alex Robinson
Escambia County Commissioner Marie Young
Franklin County Commissioner Noah Lockley Jr.
Gulf County Commissioner Nathan Peters
Lafayette County Commissioner Earnest Young
Leon County Commissioner Bob Rackleff
Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell
Former Leon County Commissioner Anita Davis
Jackson County Commission Candidate Jeremy Branch
St. Johns County Commissioner Joe Boles
Mayor of Tallahassee John Marks
Mayor of Hawthorne DeLoris Roberts
Mayor of Midway Delores Madison
Mayor of Chattahoochee, Pete Whiddon
Former Mayor of Quincy Carolyn Ford
City Commissioner of Tallahassee Allan Katz
City Commissioner of Tallahassee Andrew Gillum
City Commissioner of Hawthorne John Martin
Leon County Democratic Woman's Club Activist Wilbertine Philpot
North Florida Democratic Club Immediate Past President Dave Jacobsen
School Superintendent of Jackson County Danny Sims
Former School Superintendent of Columbia County Mike Flanagan
Former School Superintendent of Bay County Stefanie Gall
Former School Superintendent of Suwannee County Charles Blalock
Duval County School Board Member Tommy Hazouri
Putnam County School Board Member Tom Townsend
Gadsden County School Board Member Eric Henson
Bradford County State Committeeman Paul Still
Bradford County State Committeewoman Kathy Still
Business Leader Pete Carpenter, Jacksonville
Attorney Juanita Powell, Jacksonville
Escambia Community Leader Daniel Nichols
Escambia County Semi-Retired Educator Mrs. Gladys Wyche
Flagler County State Committeeman Doug Courtney
Gulf County State Committeewoman Zebe Schmitt
Hamilton State Committeeman Rhett Bullard
Leon DEC Former Chair Paige Carter-Smith
Attorney Karen Gievers, Tallahassee
Owner of Fenian Consulting Patrick Fowler, Tallahassee
Professor Anthony Viegbesie, Tallahassee
Community Leader Barbara Devane, Tallahassee
Community Leader Karen Woodall, Tallahassee
Statewide Community Leader Mark Ravenscraft, Tallahassee
Nassau County State Committeewoman Linda Spencer
Putnam County State Committeeman Kevin Sharbaugh
Putnam County Community Leader Gaye Esperson
Attorney Bill Townsend, Putnam County
Santa Rosa County State Committeewoman Ann Del Rio
Taylor County DEC Treasurer Kyle Rowell
Wakulla County State Committeewoman Verna Brock
Walton County DEC Former Chair Ray Padgett
Washington County DEC Treasurer Dr. Naomi Melvin
Washington CountyDEC Vice Chair John Bragg
President & Founder Real Rosewood Foundation Lizzie Jenkins, Alachua
Attorney Jack Bovay, Gainesville
Retired Educator Beverly Thomas, Gainesville
Alachua County Community Leader Lee Jack Price
Alachua County Community Leader Susan Bottcher
Black College Monthly Magazine Publisher, Charles Goston, Gainesville
Putnam County Community Leader Ralph Dallas
AFSCME Local #3047 President Paul Brewer, Tallahassee
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #592 President Don Ham, Tallahassee
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local #336 Business Manager Jay Cowick, Escambia County
Pensacola Labor Leader Mike Lowery

"This is the guy, Congressman Davis from Tampa? The guy who is 10 out of 435 Congressman in terms of absentee, not being on the job, not voting, 10th worst in the Congress? He's telling me to tell someone in my agency that works 24/7 on behalf of the people of the state that he should resign? No way. This is the guy who didn't vote for the reauthorization of the Patriot Act because he had to come down here and do a political stop."

Bush scoffed at Davis' statement as "purely political. He's on very thin ice as a politician that was elected to serve in Washington and misses vote after vote and vote so he can pursue his personal ambitions."

TAMPA – Democratic candidate for governor and Democratic front runner Jim Davis today called on Governor Jeb Bush to ask for the resignation of Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Alan Levine, based on published reports that Levine has applied to be CEO of the North Broward Hospital District. Calling it inappropriate for the senior Bush aide to interview for a half-million dollar a year job at an organization he's supposed to regulate, Davis said Bush should fire Levine if he refuses to step down:

"It's understandable that Levine would be interested in his own financial well-being, but the person who holds this office should have the health of Floridians as their only concern. It's the governor's responsibility to make sure he has someone who is looking out for Florida's patients, while his senior health care aide is out looking for a bigger paycheck."

"As governor, I will clean up Tallahassee and keep our promise to Florida's families by making sure that the leaders in my administration put their own financial interests aside and the interests of Floridians front and center."

# Fighting oil drilling off Florida's coast.

# Creating increased pay for teachers without raising taxes by using FCAT bonus and gambling funds.

Davis also points to two legislative accomplishments:

# The Transition to Teaching Act, to encourage workers to change to teaching careers

# The Nursing Home Patient Protection Amendment, making it harder for nursing homes to evict Medicare patients

Davis, a fourth-generation Floridian, said he wants to go back to using the FCAT as a diagnostic tool instead of a punishment.

Campaigning in staunchly conservative Brevard and Indian River counties Saturday, Davis said Florida voters should loosen the Republican grip on Tallahassee because it has created "an unhealthy obsession with control."

Davis spent several minutes reminding the crowd of his vocal opposition to the government's involvement in the case of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo.

"I did exactly what you would have done if you were in my shoes," Davis said. "That wasn't just about Terri Schiavo. There, but for the grace of God, it could be your family and mine.

"I will stand up every day to make sure the government stays out of your personal life," he said.

Last month, Davis, of Tampa, was endorsed by Michael Schiavo, who fought to have his wife's feeding tube removed in the bitter end-of-life case.