Voucher supporters who have been courting black Democrats for years picked up a key vote two weeks ago in the form of Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, (see Gradebook post here), only to lose it days later when Gov. Crist made Peterman the new head of the Department of Juvenile Justice. But if they were upset, it wasn't for long.

In recent days, another black Democrat, Rep. Charles S. “Chuck” Chestnut IV (left), has signed on as a co-sponsor of HB 653, the same voucher bill Peterman was supporting. At this point, you have to wonder: How many other black Democrats are waiting to buck their party?

- Ron Matus, state education reporter