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Florida insiders not bullish on state parties

 
Democratic WomenOs Club members attend Tally Days: Judy Meyers and June Keener, members of the Democratic WomenOs Club of Pasco County, recently attended the 4th Annual Tally Days hosted by the Democratic WomenOs Cub of Florida in Tallahassee. Meyers, from left, who serves as Region V chairwoman of the DWCF as well as legislative liaison of the DWCPC, and Keener, who is president of the DWCPC, pose with Allison Tant Richard, Florida Democratic Party chairwoman, and Maureen McKenna, DWCF president, during the legislative reception. The DWCF of Pasco County meets at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at Jasmine Lakes Civic Center, 7173 Jasmine Blvd., Port Richey. For information, call June at (727) 372-9321.
Democratic WomenOs Club members attend Tally Days: Judy Meyers and June Keener, members of the Democratic WomenOs Club of Pasco County, recently attended the 4th Annual Tally Days hosted by the Democratic WomenOs Cub of Florida in Tallahassee. Meyers, from left, who serves as Region V chairwoman of the DWCF as well as legislative liaison of the DWCPC, and Keener, who is president of the DWCPC, pose with Allison Tant Richard, Florida Democratic Party chairwoman, and Maureen McKenna, DWCF president, during the legislative reception. The DWCF of Pasco County meets at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at Jasmine Lakes Civic Center, 7173 Jasmine Blvd., Port Richey. For information, call June at (727) 372-9321.
Published June 24, 2017

We conducted another Florida Insider Poll last week that found our state's political intelligentsia overwhelmingly bullish on Republican prospects for 2018. But many of the comments from the more than 190 veteran politicos highlighted how weak both parties are perceived these days.

That's long been the case with the Florida Democratic Party, now chaired by Miami millionaire Stephen Bittel, but not the Florida GOP, chaired by state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill. A decade ago, no one would have imagined the Republican Party of Florida all but abandoned by the sitting Republican governor (Rick Scott walked away when the party elected Ingoglia chairman, rather than his preferred candidate) and more or less avoided by the Republican front-runner to succeed him, Adam Putnam.

The major parties still have an important role in politics and campaigns, but in the post-Citizens United era of super PACs and anti-establishment voter uprisings, their role is far less significant.

"Blaise who? The only thing more absurd is Bittel," said one Republican. "The party structure is a dinosaur. Even old folks like me know this is a new era. Candidates appeal directly to voters. This is why Scott and Trump won! Wake up the folks smoking cigars in the back room and tell them it is time to go."

From a Democrat: "Bittel became chair with the incorrect view shared by so many that the folks who ran FDP (the state Democratic Party) were incompetent. He didn't realize the limits FL Dems are in due to their lack of power, and now the party is low in money and saw a mass staff exodus from many good, hardworking people. If Bittel doesn't change his attitude and turn things around, then more money will flow into other organizations and the FDP will become even more of a shell than it already is."

Florida Insider Polls are unscientific surveys of the state's political professionals, money raisers, lobbyists and the like. It is a rare case where we allow people to weigh in anonymously in order to encourage frank assessments.

"The Republican Party of Florida is a sad shell of its former self, now wholly controlled by Ingoglia's sole financial benefactor (Florida House Speaker Richard) Corcoran. I actually heard someone recently long for the steady leadership of Jim Greer," quipped a Republican, referring to the former state GOP chairman who wound up behind bars. "The Florida Democrats have not been as ineffective since Scott Maddox bankrupted the joint. Republicans win due to outside money and their opponent being so conditioned to lose."

Gillum statement

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said in a formal statement Friday that he spoke with the FBI last week about its investigation into redevelopment deals in the city, and he said FBI officials "assured me I was not the focus of an investigation."

His lengthy comments came a day after the Associated Press reported that the FBI had launched its investigation, which the AP said involves prominent business owners and developers in Tallahassee, including a former Gillum campaign treasurer.

The AP said it received copies of federal grand jury subpoenas through a records request. The subpoenas seek documents from the city and a local redevelopment agency. Gillum was not named in the subpoenas, the AP reported, and the subpoenas did not reveal what potential wrongdoing federal authorities were specifically investigating.

Gillum's full statement:

"Last week the FBI approached me about several people and businesses here in Tallahassee. I spoke with them, and told them they could expect both the City and my personal cooperation with their investigation. They assured me I was not the focus of an investigation, and that they would be moving quickly with their work.

"I take any allegation of corruption in the City of Tallahassee very seriously, and I am committed to rooting it out in its entirety. If corruption has taken place in our city, those parties must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate, enable, or turn a blind eye to corruption.

"While no one likes the City being under the FBI's scrutiny, in light of what is happening nationally, we must remember that the FBI is here to protect us and we must aid them in their work. They have my full support and cooperation as the Mayor, and the full cooperation of the City of Tallahassee."

Corcoran cash

Straight off a controversial session, House Speaker Corcoran ignited his month-old political committee with $608,000 in contributions — half of it in the form of generous gifts from the political committees of his two top deputies, Reps. Jose Oliva and Carlos Trujillo. The other generous check to the Watchdog PAC came in the form of a $100,000 contribution from Miami auto magnate Norman Braman.

Mary Ellen Klas and Kristen M. Clark contributed to this week's Buzz.