SMITH PUSHED AS THURMAN REPLACEMENT
By JOHN KENNEDY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 10, 2010…..Fresh from an unsuccessful turn as Democrat Alex Sink’s running mate, former Sen. Rod Smith said Wednesday he may be willing to assume another against-the-odds task: leadership of the state’s battered Democratic Party.
But Smith told the News Service of Florida that he’s going to take his time about making a decision.
“It’s kind of like becoming the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” Smith told the News Service. “There’s some real opportunity and potential there. But there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, too.”
The current Chairwoman, Karen Thurman, has not formally announced plans to leave the post she’s held the past five years. But Florida Democrats increasingly expect to elect a new leader in January, when Thurman’s term expires.
A spokesman for the party said Wednesday that it was premature to discuss who may replace her because she hasn’t decided whether she’ll quit, but she told other top Democrats even before the election that she would likely step down.
Last week’s elections further diminished the Florida party as Democrats lost four congressional seats, seven seats in the Legislature, a U.S. Senate race and Sink’s bid for governor.
“The challenges are daunting,” said Smith. “But the pendulum always swings back.”
Smith is emerging as a potential consensus leader for the wounded party, trading on his centrist political style and a base in one of the state’s most liberal communities, home to the University of Florida.
A former prosecutor, Smith is a fiery speaker, with ties to the conservative agriculture industry. But, more importantly, Smith also has connections to the state’s unions and trial lawyer lobby – a rich source of Democratic Party funds.
Among others who’ve talked of succeeding Thurman is Miami-Dade Democratic Chair Richard Lydecker, who reportedly has the support of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who after January will be the lone statewide elected Democrat.
Outgoing House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands, who remains in the Legislature, has said he would be interested in the post if Thurman steps down, but has told at least one other lawmaker that he would step aside for Smith.
Another possible contender, Hillsborough state committeeman Alan Clendenin, has released a prescription for healing what ails the party in a plan he has put on the Web.
“The voters across our state gave us a one hell of a jolt,” Clendenin wrote on his Web site, www.alanclendenin.com. “We do not have time to make excuses, we need to take responsibility for the loss and start the process of rebuilding our party.”
The incoming House Democratic leader, Rep. Ron Saunders of Key West, said he’s been in contact with both Smith and Sands and said the party is working to come up with a consensus candidate. Saunders said he would support Smith’s candidacy should he choose to run, saying Smith would bring the networking and fundraising ability the party needs going forward.
“If Rod chooses to go forward, it would put a lot of us at ease,” Saunders said, adding that Sands has told him he would be willing to bow out and back Smith as well.
Other possible candidates are Pasco County Democratic Chair Alison Morano, and state party vice-chairman Rhett Bullard. Former Tallahasssee state Rep. Loranne Ausley, who lost a Cabinet bid last week for chief financial officer, also is considering the post.
Among the changes Clendenin suggests is improving the party’s ground game, which failed to gin up enough voter turnout among the party’s base, and better recruiting of candidates.
“We must recruit, recruit, recruit,” Clendenin said. “Business leaders, churches and our universities are filled with quality Democrats. We need to expand our search for individuals that will be our party’s leaders in ten years.”
News Service reporters Keith Laing and Mike Peltier contributed to this report.