TALLAHASSEE -- When it comes to the Florida Cabinet, Republicans have always been outnumbered. But this year, GOP leaders believe they can turn that around.
Buoyed by increases in Republican voter registration and Jeb Bush's prospects in the governor's race, the party officials contend they've served up a winning field of candidates for the six-member Cabinet.
"I could not be any prouder. I feel so good about where we find ourselves," said GOP Chairman Tom Slade.
But Democrats, which now control four of the six Cabinet posts, believe they will easily maintain or increase their majority on the board that shares power with the governor. They say Republicans hurt themselves when two GOP incumbents left the board to run for governor.
Democrats also like their chances because their candidates have held back from spending most of their contributions until the final campaign days.
"It's sad, but most people don't know anybody in each of these races. The vote of the people who make up their minds in the final stretch is critical. That's where money for TV ads becomes very important," said Lynda Russell, the executive director of the state Democratic Party. She noted that Democratic candidates held a 3-to-1 advantage in cash on hand going into the final campaign days.
Each Cabinet member has unique duties and runs a state agency, but they all share power with the governor on matters ranging from public schools and law enforcement to environmental permits.
The dozen candidates for the Cabinet posts have struggled to grab the public's attention. At least one of the races, though, will make history.
Jamerson is the incumbent, having been sworn into the job in early January to fill the unexpired term of Betty Castor who resigned to become president of the University of South Florida. Brogan is the elected Martin County school superintendent.
Both candidates have pledged to be agents of reform, but Brogan fashions a more conservative approach. He supports local-option "vouchers" to pay for education at private schools. He has also tried to fashion Jamerson as a career politician who is out of touch with the mainstream.
Jamerson, an author of the state's Blueprint 2000 initiative designed to ignite local control of schools, wants administrators to have more authority to crack down on violent students.
Smith ran for governor this year and dropped out of a runoff with Jeb Bush. Then, in a controversial maneuver, Smith jumped into the agriculture commissioner's race after the Republican nominee, Frank Darden, quit the race.
Crawford's campaign has focused on criticizing Smith's campaign switch. Smith, who is the secretary of state and a former attorney general, has spent little money on the Cabinet race after running for governor, but he has led the fight.
Nelson is a former congressman and lawyer from Melbourne who lost a bitter 1990 primary race against Gov. Lawton Chiles. Ireland is a four-term lawmaker from Fort Myers and an insurance agent who has gone great lengths to portray himself as an anti-tax, right winger.
Both candidates have focused on issues dealing with the price of insurance and the scarcity of coverage. Yet besides overseeing Florida'sinsurance industry, the Cabinet post also serves as state treasurer and fire marshal.
They're running for one of the least recognized jobs in state government. It's the one that keeps the state archives and oversees elections, registration of corporations and licensing of concealed weapons.
Mortham is a state legislator and Republican leader in the House. She is the only woman running for statewide office this year. Her campaign has focused on promises of cutting taxes, getting tough on crime and ending welfare. Saunders, also a state legislator, has criticized her for potentially violating state election laws.
The highest point of the campaigns came when Milligan accused Lewis of taking gifts from bankers he regulates without reporting them as required by law -- charges that Lewis denies. Milligan has also drawn attention to his pledge to dismantle the office by having the work of bank regulation handled by a commission.
Ferro has been criticized for leaving the bench in the midst of judicial probe into charges that he's been abusive to people in his courtroom. He also began his race by running, for several weeks, as a candidate for secretary of state. But Ferro has focused his campaign on blaming Butterworth for the early releases of violent offenders from Florida prisons.
Butterworth is sticking to a campaign that advertises his progress at busting fraudulent operations.
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