Friday, September 15, 2006

FLORIDA DIGEST September 15, 2006

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Help Elect Ken Keechl to Broward County Commission - District #4

Fundraiser sponsored by The Dolphkin Democrats

Sunday afternoon - September 24 - 4-6 pm

Georgie's Alibi - 2266 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors

COME AND TOAST KEN KEECHL,
OUR NEXT BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONER
OUR VOICE ON THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION

Food and drinks!

Minimum donation $25 - to maximum of $500

Please RSVP TO
robertb954@yahoo.com
or call 954-489-1566


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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15522333.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


BROWARD SCHOOLS
Decline in enrollment baffles Broward officials

BY HANNAH SAMPSON AND NIRVI SHAH
hsampson@MiamiHerald.com


Faced with the loss of more than 8,300 students this year, Broward school district officials intend to find out who disappeared and why.

Among the questions they will consider: Are the district's poorest studentsfleeing because of high housing costs? And where are they going?

''We're going to take it apart,'' said Broward Schools Superintendent FrankTill. ``We want to look and see: Did the percentage of lower socioeconomickids move? That might say something about your job market. Did the middleclass kids move?''

Fewer students signed up to receive free and reduced-price lunches thisyear, according to a report released Thursday. But it's not clear whetherthat number went down as a result of poor students leaving the district orbecause of some other factor, Till said.



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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15522672.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


CAMPAIGN 2006 | GOVERNOR'S RACE
Davis' pick - Daryl Jones - could make history

The choice of Jim Davis' running mate signals a shift in Democrats' attention -- back to South Florida.
By MARC CAPUTO AND PHIL LONG
mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com


Challenged by a black congressman to be a ''different white man,''Democratic governor candidate Jim Davis on Thursday picked a Miami runningmate who would be Florida's first African-American lieutenant governor ifelected.

The decision to pick former Miami state Sen. Daryl Jones and to showcase thenew ticket first in Fort Lauderdale also signaled Davis wants to lead adifferent Democratic Party -- and be a different kind of Tampa Democrat.

In the past two elections, the Democrats' U.S. Senate and governor nomineeshailed from Tampa and spent far too little time in vote-rich South Florida,which their Republican opponents won in 2004 and 2002. Many black voters,especially in 2002, simply stayed home.



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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cjewish15sep15,0,5596192.story?coll=sfla-news-broward


Congressional hopeful Klein appeals to Jewish voters to support him

By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

September 15, 2006


Congressional hopeful Ron Klein said Thursday that he's the better candidate for Jewish voters.

Klein, who is Jewish, is hoping to take the District 22 seat in Congressaway from U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, who is Catholic and is in his 13th term.In a conference call set up by the National Jewish Democratic Council onThursday, Klein said he has supported Jewish causes for years as a senatorin Tallahassee. He's also a member of the B'nai Torah congregation in BocaRaton, he said.

"I don't feel I need to wear my religion on my sleeve ... but it's a very important part of our life," Klein said.



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http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060915/CAPITOLNEWS/609150350&template=printart


Article published Sep 15, 2006
President to headline fundraiser for Crist

By Jim Ash
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF


President George W. Bush will headline a $25,000-a-plate fundraiser for theFlorida Republican Party and Attorney General Charlie Crist next week,organizers said Thursday.

''Presidents bring a lot of excitement and a lot of enthusiasm, and they getpeople who might write checks to write bigger checks,'' said Tallahasseelobbyist David Rancourt, who is listed as a statewide chairman for theevent. ''As far as I'm concerned, I will wave signs, I will knock on doors,and I will do everything I can legally to get Charlie Crist elected governorof Florida.''

With two ballrooms of the Ritz Carlton Orlando-Grande Lakes reserved for theSept. 21 reception, organizers expect to raise $4 million, said John Morgan,a partner in the Orlando law firm Morgan and Morgan who is a co-chairman ofthe event. Morgan is a long-time Crist supporter and Crist picked Morganpartner Jeff Kottkamp, a state representative from Fort Myers, as a running mate earlier this week.



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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcnorth/content/local_news/epaper/2006/09/15/a21a_cong16_0915.html


Foley's numbers in 'free fall,' says Mahoney
By Michael C. Bender
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 15, 2006


Democrat Tim Mahoney wants voters to know that polls he paid for show him just 13 percentage points behind 12-year Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Foley.

"This guy is in a free fall," Mahoney said. "He'd love to have George Bush's ratings right now."

Foley's campaign, however, responded that 13 points is a landslide and therace will end the same as their first six U.S. House elections.

"Mahoney has spent his millions running negative, false TV ads againstCongressman Foley for a month, and he's not even close," Foley spokesman Jason Kello said. "Obviously the voters aren't buying it."




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http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB4FJKY3SE.html


Crist's Running Mate Pick Revives Rebel Flag Issue

By WILLIAM MARCH The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 15, 2006


TAMPA - Charlie Crist's emphasis on civil rights in his campaign forgovernor could be hampered by running mate Jeff Kottkamp's support of a 2001bill perceived by some as aimed at preserving Confederate flag displays.

The bill, filed amid controversies in Florida and elsewhere over publicdisplays of the flags, was withdrawn after members of the state House blackcaucus objected. They accused the main sponsor, then-Rep. Bev Kilmer ofQuincy, of deceiving some black legislators into signing on as co-sponsors.

At least two black state representatives who had signed on as sponsorswithdrew.

Kottkamp was one of about 30 white legislators who remained sponsors of thebill, which died in committee.




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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2006/09/15/a14a_SAT_edit_0915.html


SAT scores dispel myth of FCAT-based system
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Friday, September 15, 2006


Florida's falling SAT scores are more proof that Gov. Bush's educationagenda has not pushed the state ahead where it matters most: in producinghigh school graduates who are ready to compete on a national and globallevel.

This year, average SAT scores for Florida students fell two points inreading and one point in math. Only South Carolina and Georgia had lowerscores. Many colleges and universities continue to use the newly expandedSAT as one measure of a student's likely success in college. Scores in PalmBeach, Martin and St. Lucie counties declined from last year. Martin County scores, however, exceeded state and national averages, while both Palm Beachand St. Lucie counties fell below national and state marks.

Despite the emphasis on high-stakes testing that began after Gov. Bush tookoffice in 1999, Florida's high school students still are struggling withhigh-stakes tests. Gains made in elementary school, particularly in thethird and fourth grades, are being lost along the way.



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http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/15/news_pf/Opinion/Advantage__Davis.shtml


Advantage, Davis
Crist plays it safe picking a running mate; Davis makes a bold choice.
A Times Editorial
Published September 15, 2006


The first rule of thumb for candidates for governor is to do no harm totheir campaigns when selecting running mates. Charlie Crist and Jim Davispassed that test, selecting serious men knowledgeable about state issues andshoring up support among key voting blocs. While Crist played it safe as theRepublican front-runner, Davis' decision was uncharacteristically bold andpotentially historic.

The Tampa Democrat selected Daryl Jones of Miami, a former state legislatorwho would become Florida's first African-American lieutenant governor. Jonesran a credible, long-shot campaign for the Democratic nomination forgovernor in 2002 and contributed to the discussion with thoughtful ideas about tax policy and education. He was an effective lawmaker and sponsored the bill that compensated survivors of the 1923 Rosewood massacre.



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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15522674.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


Posted on Fri, Sep. 15, 2006


CAMPAIGN 2006

Jones has seen political storm
Jim Davis says running mate Daryl Jones, who has handled a rise and fall, is ready for a fierce fight.

By MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com

The nation was focused on Monica Lewinsky and Congress was embroiled in thereprisal against President Bill Clinton when Daryl Jones, a Miami statesenator, went from political triumph to his deepest crash.The year was 1998. Clinton had tapped Jones to be secretary of the U.S. AirForce 10 months earlier, only to have the nomination killed on a partisantie vote after a rigorous Senate inquiry and bitter personal attacks.

Jones, a former Air Force fighter pilot and rising political star, washobbled but not felled. Days before the doomed vote, as doubts about himescalated, he filed for reelection to his Miami Senate district, a pragmaticreturn to a friendly province. He previously had been nominated by fellowDemocrats to be Senate president in the hope they would regain the Senate majority.



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St. Petersburg Times

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/15/news_pf/Opinion/Advantage__Davis.shtml


Advantage, Davis
Crist plays it safe picking a running mate; Davis makes a bold choice.
A Times Editorial
Published September 15, 2006

The first rule of thumb for candidates for governor is to do no harm to their campaigns when selecting running mates. Charlie Crist and Jim Davispassed that test, selecting serious men knowledgeable about state issues andshoring up support among key voting blocs. While Crist played it safe as theRepublican front-runner, Davis' decision was uncharacteristically bold and potentially historic.

The Tampa Democrat selected Daryl Jones of Miami, a former state legislator who would become Florida's first African-American lieutenant governor. Jonesran a credible, long-shot campaign for the Democratic nomination forgovernor in 2002 and contributed to the discussion with thoughtful ideasabout tax policy and education. He was an effective lawmaker and sponsored the bill that compensated survivors of the 1923 Rosewood massacre.


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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-davis1506sep15,0,2426217.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

ELECTION 2006

State Democrats hope Davis' choice of running mate fires up campaign

Jason Garcia and John Kennedy
Tallahassee Bureau
September 15, 2006

LAKE MARY -- Democratic nominee for governor Jim Davis made a precedent-setting pick in choosing a black running mate Thursday, a movethat Florida Democrats hope will ignite his campaign and help him gain ground on Republican Charlie Crist.

Confirming news that spread late Wednesday night, Davis introduced Daryl Jones as his lieutenant governor in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

Jones, a 51-year-old former senator from Miami, was once picked by PresidentClinton to lead the Air Force, but his nomination was shot down in Congress.

If elected this fall, Jones would be the first black lieutenant governor inFlorida history.




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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-creplace15sep15,0,6470012.story?coll=sfla-news-broward

3 ask Gov. Bush for temporary appointment to Broward School Board



By Jean-Paul Renaud
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Education Writer

September 15, 2006


Candidates are lining up to ask Gov. Jeb Bush to appoint them to temporarilyreplace Carole Andrews on the Broward County School Board.

Two days after Andrews suddenly resigned because of failing health, threecandidates have applied: Phyllis Hope, William Davison and Darlene Vlazny.

Bush's appointee will serve the remainder of Andrews' current term, whichends Nov. 20. Bush has ordered a new School Board election on Nov. 7, thesame day voters will be going to the polls to decide other state and localraces.

Andrews had won re-election for four more years Sept. 5.

Qualifying for the open seat begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 27 and ends at noon the following day. Candidates will have about a month to mount their campaign.



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