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Candidates weigh in on monuments

 
Tom Scarritt has been named as the recipient of the Hillsborough County Bar Association?€š€™s Michael A. Fogarty ?€š€œIn the Trenches?€š€ Award
Tom Scarritt has been named as the recipient of the Hillsborough County Bar Association?€š€™s Michael A. Fogarty ?€š€œIn the Trenches?€š€ Award
Published Aug. 19, 2017

After last weekend's violence in Charlottesville, Va., Winter Park businessman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King posted a message on Facebook calling for all Confederate monuments in Florida to be removed from federal lands, saying they celebrate an anti-American ideology.

We surveyed the other announced candidates for governor in 2018 and the candidates talking about running on the topic. Here are their responses:

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes: Declined to comment.

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Palm Coast: Declined to comment.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, D: "Like many people, I want local governments to take action to remove these monuments. But more than just the necessary step of removing them, we need a real conversation in Florida about inclusion and building community. I created the Longest Table initiative in Tallahassee so neighbors could sit at a table together and discuss the most pressing issues facing them and their communities. Tough but honest conversations will help heal this state and country." (Later in the week, he called on the removal of a Confederate monument at the state Capitol.)

Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Tallahassee: "Our state's role in the Civil War and the deplorable promotion of slavery still cause deep pain today. We all have a responsibility to combat racism and hate wherever it exists. We all must educate our children about this painful history and teach them to love one another. Now, more than ever, it is imperative we promote and celebrate the values and aspirations that unify us as Floridians and Americans. I stand with the Florida cities and towns that have relocated monuments from public spaces and strongly support efforts to place all these statutes where they belong: in cemeteries, museums, and textbooks."

State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater: "What's on county property and city property is up to the counties and cities. I'm a big home rule guy. . . . Now those that are on state land, I don't think we should be celebrating the Confederacy. I don't think we should be saluting Confederate leaders. But for instance, the statue at the Capitol in Tallahassee, my understanding is that it's a memorial to Confederate soldiers who lived in Tallahassee. They fought on behalf of our state for what was officially decided by our state government, and so we might ought to take a different look at that. Maybe the monument ought to be closer to cemeteries, but it should be a case-by-case basis. I don't think you can say they all ought to be up or they all ought to be down."

Agriculture Commissiowner Adam Putnam, R-Bartow: "We must learn from the past, warts and all, in order to better shape our future. Changing the names of institutions and removing landmarks of history will not undo the hurt that has been inflicted. I'm more focused on eliminating the hate that exists today to prevent Americans from suffering further pain and violence."

Chris King, D-Orlando: "Removing Confederate monuments is not just the right thing to do for Florida values and its citizens, but the smart thing to do for Florida's economy. In order to unleash Florida's economic potential, and attract the jobs and investment we need to grow into the national leader we should be, it's time to position Florida as a state with eyes set on the future."

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, D: "I believe local governments have begun to address this issue and are doing so by taking public input and immediate action. I join the bipartisan leaders who believe public facilities should not showcase monuments that do not reflect what our state strives to be."

Personal injury lawyer John Morgan, D-Orlando: "I would point out that Robert E. Lee himself was against these monuments being erected if healing was to begin. They were built to do exactly what the general feared, to foment hate and bitterness. He was correct in his fears."

Lee plans run for CFO

State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, appears to have stirred a hornet's nest by announcing that he intends to run for state chief financial officer in 2018.

Many political insiders expected Lee would decide to run for re-election to his state Senate seat instead of starting a primary fight with the current CFO, Republican Jimmy Patronis. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Patronis to the vacant post in June and solidly backs Patronis to hold it in 2018.

But without filing officially, Lee told a local reporter he intends to run — the day before attending a high-profile public event Friday with Scott and Patronis in Brandon. Awkward. Scott made clear his allegiance.

"I've known Jimmy for a long time," he said. "I appointed Jimmy because I think he's going to do a really good job as CFO. I know he's concerned about whether he's going to run or not. If he runs I'll be a big supporter. … I'll do everything I can to see that he wins."

Nelson applauds Rubio

Sen. Bill Nelson says he texted Republican colleague Marco Rubio to say he was proud of Florida's junior senator for forcefully denouncing Donald Trump's contention that "many sides" were responsible for the violence in Charlottesville.

"There are a lot of folks in the president's party who are unwilling," said Nelson, whose likely re-election opponent, Gov. Rick Scott, did not criticize the president.

William March, Langston Taylor and Divya Kumar contributed to this week's Buzz.