2010 Florida Election Report
A Summary of Florida’s 2010 State and Federal Campaigns
Compiled and Researched byColodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate
August 2, 2010
Contact: Fred E. Karlinsky, Shareholder
(954) 332-1749
CONFIDENTIAL
South Florida
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+1 954 492 4010
Tallahassee
215 S. Monroe Street, Suite 701
Tallahassee, Florida32301
+1 850 577 0398
This document was prepared by, and any questions should be directed to:
Mike Colodny, Shareholder
(954) 492-4010
Fred E. Karlinsky, Shareholder
(954) 332-1749
Richard J. Fidei, Partner
(954) 332-1758
Katherine Scott Webb, Partner
(850) 701-3103
Trevor B. Mask, Associate
(850) 701-3105
Florida Election Cycle
2009-2010
Florida’s 2010 Election Cycle is developing into one of the most active campaign seasons in the State’s history.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist (NPA) has announced he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Mel Martinez (R) and thus, will not seek re-election as Governor. Governor Cristappointed his former chief of staff, George LeMieux (R) to serve out the rest of Martinez’s Senate term.Senator LeMieux (R)already has announced that he will not seek election to the seat once his term ends in November 2010.However, it is rumored that hewill challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D) in November 2012. The decision of Governor Cristto run for U.S. Senate will cause all four Florida Cabinet positions to be open for the first time in 120 years.Florida’s Cabinet comprises the positions of Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
A number of State Legislators have vacated their respective House and Senate seats in the quest for these open Cabinet posts, causing a political “domino” effect. In addition to those lawmakers seeking Cabinet seats, a number of Representatives are leaving their seats to run for the Senate. These factors, plus a large number of legislators facing term limits, creates a year where more than three-quarters of Florida’s Legislature will be on the 2010 ballot. Collectively, these prevailing factors are expected to produce high levels of campaign activity throughout Florida. Yet, with Florida’s qualifying date still a month away, these races are expected to continue changing between now and then.
Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate hopes you will find this report informative and will be able to use it as a tool to follow Florida’s 2010 election cycle. We will report on races across the state for Cabinet and State Legislative races, as well as Florida’s United States Senate and Congressional races. These reports will be provided following significant campaign activity, such as:
- The release of quarterly fundraising reports
- Qualifying of candidates (State - June 18, 2010)
- Primary Election results (August 24, 2010)
- General Election results (November 2, 2010)
Republican Party of Florida
FormerOviedoCity Council member Jim Greer had been the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (“RPOF”) since 2006. Greer announced his resignation after he received criticism from a group of elected officials, party leaders and major donors. The criticism surrounded excessive spending and his public endorsement of Governor Cristin the U.S. Senate Primary against former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R).
Former Speaker of the House and current State Senator John Thrasher (R)was appointed as the new chair of the RPOF. He was challenged by National Committeewoman Sharon Day, but won the vote with a large majority.
Florida Democratic Party
Former Congresswoman Karen Thurman has been the elected Chair of the Florida Democratic Party since 2005. From 1993-2003, she represented Florida's 5th Congressional District and was only the sixth woman to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in its 200-plus year history.
Thurman first became involved with government in her hometown of Dunnellon. While working as a math teacher at DunnellonMiddle School, her students encouraged her to run for a vacant seat on the Dunnellon City Council. She won that race and went on to serve seven years on the Council, including two terms as mayor. In 1982, at the age of 31, she won her election to the Florida State Senate.
The Republican and Democratic parties have the ability to raise “soft” money without contribution limits. This money can be spent on either Cabinet or Legislative races. Below we have included the 2010 First Quarter totals for soft money raised.
Party / Funds Raised / ExpendituresRepublicans / $7,661,753 / $3,941,445
Democrats / $2,732,483 / $1,922,522
2010 Florida Cabinet Candidates
In December of 2008, U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R) announced he would not seek re-election, thus opening his seat for the 2010 election cycle and initiating a “domino” effect throughout Florida for the imminent campaign season. Governor Crist’s (NPA) subsequent decision to not seek re-election and run for the U.S. Senateled to Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) leaving his position to be the Republican Nominee for Governor. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D)also announced she would be vacating her position to be the Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate. Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charlie Bronson (R) is term-limited, which leaves his Cabinet seat open as well.
Governor
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestBill McCollum (R) / (R) $8,576,712
(E) $5,168,700 / Attorney / Orlando / Lead counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Clintonimpeachment trial; served on active duty and as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the U.S. Navy / U.S. Congress
(1981-2001); Florida Attorney General
(2006-present) / Attorney General of Florida (2006-present)
Rick Scott (R) / (R) $415,626
(E) $22,658,629 / Businessman / Naples / Founder of Columbia Hospital Corporation, Solantic Corporation. One of his businesses was fined $1.7 billion for Medicare fraud. Founder of Conservatives for Patients’ Rights, an anti-Obama organization. Capable of self-financing his campaign / None / None
2010 Florida Cabinet Candidates
Governor (continued)
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestAlex Sink (D) / (R) $10,585,911
(E) $1,509,781 / Former Bank of America President of Florida Operations / Tampa / Appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Commission on Government Accountability to the People; Vice Chair of Florida Tax Watch / Florida Chief Financial Officer (2006-present) / None
Brian Moore (D) / (R) $3,117
(E) $8,022 / Community Activist / Spring Hill / Twenty-year veteran of managed healthcare industry who has designed and implemented infrastructure rehabilitation and public health education and vaccination projects in Central and South America / None / None
Lawton “Bud” Chiles (NPA) / (R) $86,573
(E) $36,147 / Businessman / Tallahassee / Son of former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles; recently resigned as head of the Lawton Chiles Foundation; had brief stint with hurricane-proof home building company that went bankrupt / None / None
2010 Florida Cabinet Candidates
Attorney General
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestHolly Benson (R) / (R) $637,737
(E) $278,976 / Attorney / Tallahassee / University of Florida College of Law graduate. Municipal bond attorneyat Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone. In 2006, Governor Crist appointed heras Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and in 2008, as Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. / Florida House of Representatives
(2000-2006) / None
Pam Bondi (R) / (R) $713,345
(E) $213,140 / Attorney / HillsboroughCounty / Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney; servesas a legal analyst on Scarborough Country with Joe Scarborough and other MSNBC and Fox News programs / None / None
Jeff Kottkamp (R) / (R) $884,070
(E) $417,035 / Attorney / Fort Myers / Former trial attorney with the PIP Law Firm of Morgan & Morgan. / Florida House (2000-2006) / Lieutenant Governor of Florida(2006-present)
Dave Aronberg (D) / (R) $1,379,113
(E) $1,271,974 / Attorney / Greenacres / Assistant to the Florida Attorney General for Economic Crimes, 1999; HarvardLawSchool graduate. / Florida Senate
(2002-present) / Senate Military Affairs & Domestic Security – Chair
Dan Gelber (D) / (R) $1,271,974
(E) $387,400 / Attorney / Miami Beach / At 25, appointed as one of the youngest Federal Prosecutors in the nation. Selected by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn as Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, he directed investigations into global terrorism. / Florida House of Representatives
(2000-2008);
Florida Senate
(2008-present) / Served as House Minority Leader 2006-2008
2010 Florida Cabinet Candidates
Chief Financial Officer
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestJeff Atwater (R) / (R) $2,971,399
(E) $147,296 / Banker / North Palm Beach / Former Chairman, President and CEO of Barnett Bank of Broward County and the Treasure Coast; former Market President of Riverside National Bank for Palm Beach and Broward counties / Florida House of Representatives
(2000-2002); Florida Senate (2002-presnt) / Florida Senate President (2008-present)
Loranne Ausley (D) / (R) $991,054
(E) $159,945 / Attorney / Tallahassee / Current Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board Chair; Senior Advisor to the LawtonChiles Foundation / Florida House of Representatives
(2000-2008) / None
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestAdam Putnam (R) / (R) $2,302,917
(E) $332,032 / Farmer/Rancher / Bartow / Elected House Republican Conference Chairman in 2006 / Florida House of Representatives
(1996-2000); / U.S. House of Representatives
(2001-present)
Scott Maddox (D) / (R) $492,634
(E) $30,565 / Attorney and Lobbyist / Tallahassee / Served as a member of the Democratic National Committee; Earned law degree from FloridaStateUniversity / TallahasseeCity Commission, Mayor; Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party / None
Ira Chester (TEA) / (R) $0
(E) $7,738 / Unknown / Tallahassee / Former registered Democrat / None / None
The Florida Senate
The Florida Senate comprises40 Districts, which are currently occupied by 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats who all serve four-year terms. In 2010, all even-numbered districts will be on the ballot for re-election, with the addition of a few odd seats due to some Senators having left during mid-term for various reasons. A total of 14 seats are open, nine of those because of term limits and the remaining five as a result of the aforementioned statewide “domino effect.”
District 2 – Currently occupied by Senator Durell Peaden Jr. (R), who is term-limited, this Panhandle seat includes parts of Escambia, Bay, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestGreg Evers (R) / (R) $344,019
(E) $133,531 / Farmer/Small Businessman / Milton / Owner of BakerFarmCenter since 1981, farming peanuts, soybeans, cotton, corn, wheat and strawberries / Florida House of Representatives
(2001-present) / HouseJoint Legislative Auditing Committee – (Alternating Chair)
Walter “Mike” Hill (R) / (R) $62,141
(E) $33,277 / Insurance Agent / Pensacola / Has worked for State Farm since 1990. Retired U.S. Air Force / None / None
Christopher Crawford (TEA) / (R) $2,032
(E) $1,782 / Unknown / Orlando / No information available / None / None
The Florida Senate
District 4 – Senator Don Gaetz (R) is eligible forre-election in 2010 to serve another four-year term. This Panhandle seat includes parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. NO OTHER CANDIDATES QUALIFIED FOR THIS SEAT, THEREFORE SENATOR GAETZ IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestDon Gaetz (R) Incumbent / (R) $338,865
(E) $81,715 / Legislator / Fort Walton Beach / Former Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Long-Term Health Care; co-founder of VITAS Healthcare Corporation / Florida Senate
(2006-present); Okaloosa County School District Superintendent / Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Social Responsibility – (Chair); Senate Committee on Health Regulation – (Chair)
The Florida Senate
District 6 – This Panhandle seat includes parts of Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison and Wakulla counties and is open due to Senator Al Lawson (D) being term-limited.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestJohn Shaw (R) / (R) $2,402
(E) $1,882 / Owner of Computer Repair Business / Tallahassee / Campaign platform is the legalization of marijuana and industrial hemp / None / None
Bill Montford (D) / (R) $348,153
(E) $250,406 / CEO of FloridaAssociation of DistrictsSchool Super-intendents / Tallahassee / Currently serves on the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Chairs the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee; Board of Directors member for theMary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, Challenger Learning Center, the Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education; and
The Village Square / LeonCountySchool District Superintendent / None
Curtis Richardson (D) / (R) $102,845
(E) $66,390 / Education Consultant / Tallahassee / Cabinet Aide to former Governor Lawton Chiles / LeonCountySchool Board Member; Florida House (2000-2008) / None
The Florida Senate
District 8 – This Northeast Florida seat includes parts of Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and VolusiaCounties and was won by John Thrasher (R) in a November 2009 special election to replace the recently-deceased Senator Jim King (R). The election below will be in 2010.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestCharles Perniciaro (R) / (R) $16,096
(E) $197,183 / Doctor / Jacksonville / Director of Dermatopathology at Bernhardt Laboratories. Taught at Mayo Clinic before private practice / None / None
John
Thrasher (R)
Incumbent / (R) $217,929
(E) $123,788 / Attorney; now-former lobbyist for Southern Strategy Group since 2001 / OrangePark / Appointed by Governor Bush to Clay County Commission 2007-2008; Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce General Counsel, 2009; U.S. Army 1966-1970; served in Germany and Vietnam; heavily decorated and honorably discharged as Captain / Florida Senate
(2009-present); Florida House of Representatives
(1992-2000); ClayCountySchool Board; (1986-1990) / Senate Ethics and Elections – (Chair)
Former Speaker of the House (1998-2000)
Deborah Gianoulis (D) / (R) $51,869
(E) $3,025 / Retired, Former TV Anchor-woman / PonteVedraBeach / Launched“Save Duval Schools” in 2009to protest state budget cuts to schools. Outspoken critic of usingFCAT scores to allocate funding;
Emmy, Peabody award winner / None / None
The Florida Senate
District 10 –This Central Florida seat includes parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. Senator Rhonda Storms (R) is eligible for re-election to serve another four-year term.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestRonda Storms (R)
Incumbent / (R) $209,665
(E) $75,886 / Educator; Attorney / Brandon / Christian Coalition of Florida, Faith and Family Award (2007-2008); StetsonUniversity, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2008 / Florida Senate
(2006-present);
Hillsborough CountyCommission
(1998-2006) / Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs – (Chair)
Victoria Brake (WRI) / (R) $0
(E) $0 / Unknown / Valrico / No information available / None / None
District 12 – This Central Florida seat, which includes parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, is open due to Senator Victor Crist (R) being term-limited.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestKevin
Ambler (R) / (R) $305,164
(E) $266,607 / Attorney / Tampa / 15-year litigation attorney currently serves as a legislative analyst; served as Air Force Judge Advocate and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. / Florida House of Representatives
(2002-present) / House Public Safety and Domestic Security Policy Committee – (Chair)
Jim
Norman (R) / (R) $507,935
(E) $235,267 / Accountant / Tampa / Served two consecutive terms as Hillsborough County Commission Chairman; Salvation Army comptroller / HillsboroughCounty Commissioner
(1994-present) / None
The Florida Senate
District 14 –This North Central Florida seat includes parts of Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam and Union counties.
Senator Steve Oelrich (R) is eligible for re-election to serve another four-year term.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Info / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestSteve Oelrich (R)
Incumbent / (R) $222,649
(E) $79,015 / Retired
Sheriff / Gainesville / Served as Alachua County Sheriff for over 14 years. Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent. Prior to being elected Sheriff, he owned a Nationwide Insurance Agency / Florida Senate
(2006-present); Alachua County Sheriff / Senate Higher Education Committee – Chair
Perry
McGriff Jr. (D) / (R)$140,746
(E)$10,784 / State Farm Insurance Agent / Gainesville / Lost the Democratic primary four years ago. Elected to Florida House in 2000 but lost his bid for re-election two years later to Larry Cretul of Ocala, who went on to become House Speaker / Florida House (2000-2002); formerGainesville Mayor / None
District 16 – This Central Florida seat, which includes parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, is open as a result of Senator Charlie Justice (D) not seeking re-election to the Senate in order to run for Congress.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestJack Latvala (R) / (R) $580,331
(E) $185,346 / Political Consultant / Clearwater / Longtime director of Community Hospital in New Port Richey; director of SynovusBank of Tampa Bay; once operated a carwash in Steinhatchee and a printing shop in Largo / Florida Senate
(1994 – 2002) / Served as Senate Majority Leader (1998-2000)
Nina Hayden (D) / (R) $16,922
(E) $10,512 / Attorney / Clearwater / Works in Public Defender’s Office / PinellasCounty
School Board / None
The Florida Senate
District 18 –This Central Florida seat includes parts of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties. Senator Arthenia Joyner (D) is eligible for re-election to serve another four-year term. NO OTHER CANDIDATES QUALIFIED FOR THIS SEAT, THEREFORE SENATOR JOYNER IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED.
Candidate / Funds Raised/ Expenditures / Occupation / Residence / Biographical Information / Elected Positions Held / Legislative Position of InterestArthenia Joyner (D) Incumbent / (R) $45,588
(E) $20,307 / Attorney / Tampa / UniversityCommunityHospital Trustee, 1986-Present; Hillsborough Overall Economic Development Committee, 1992-1994; Director, Tampa Economic Development Board, 1992-1994 / Florida Senate
(2006-present)
Florida House
(2000-2006) / Served as House Minority Whip and Floor Leader;
District 20 – This Central Florida seat, which includes parts of Lake, Marion, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties, is open as a result of Senator Carey Baker (R) not seeking re-election. Senator Baker had filed to run for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, but withdrew his name in that race.