by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
Where the Democrats have made few financial inroads, Jeb Bush has developed a superhighway. Jacksonville has become a lucrative stop on the campaign trail for the Republican governor, who is eying a second term in Tallahassee.
While “Big Four” Democratic candidates Janet Reno, Bill McBride, Lois Frankel and Daryl Jones must rely on demographics farther south to fund their campaigns, Bush has found Jacksonville to be a willing donor. As of the end of 2001, the latest campaign finance report available had Bush collecting over $120,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from Jacksonville addresses. Considering his total fund raising efforts amount to nearly $3 million statewide, the Jacksonville number sounds small. But compare that to his closest Duval County rival Bill McBride, who managed $43,000 from Jacksonville, and the edge clearly goes to Bush. Reno, Frankel and Jones have been non-factors so far, each raising less than $3,000 locally. Those numbers, however, do not take into account how vigorously each candidate has appealed for donations from Jacksonville. They also don’t take into account a Bush fundraiser at Alltel Stadium earlier this year.
“I think everyone is very pleased with the local fund raising efforts,” said Michael Munz, vice president of strategic communications for The Dalton Agency and one of the cogs in Bush’s local campaign finance machine. “He came to town in January and I think the estimates put [his local contributions] at about $1 million. Northeast Florida has always been a strong supporter for [Bush] in money and votes.”
Local Republican pollster John Libby agreed, saying that Jacksonville has typically favored the Bush brothers. Part of it has to do with the gradual shift in election tendencies.
“Jacksonville is a strong Republican town,” he said. “It’s become more so over the years. If you go back 20, 25 years, there were only a handful of Republican elected officials. Now, with the exception of the School Board, the overwhelming majority of elected officials are Republican. The same goes with the surrounding counties.”
While Jeb Bush has been able to count on Jacksonville during past campaigns, his entrenchment in local donor circles has crystallized with his current fundraising efforts.
“This time, he has brought his political vacuum cleaner and sucked up everything but the Confederate dollars,” said Duval County GOP chair Tom Slade. “Jacksonville is literally being compared with any other region in Florida, with the possible of exception of Miami, as far fundraising for Jeb.”
McBride, the only other candidate to spur any donor interest in Jacksonville, did so on his laurels as the one-time managing partner of Holland & Knight, Florida’s largest law firm. Not surprisingly, the bulk of McBride’s local contributors are attorneys.
Bush has a well-rounded following with a few lawyers on his side, too, including former U.S. Rep. Tillie Fowler, former University of Florida president Marshall Criser, Chamber of Commerce chair Lynn Pappas, lobbyist Marty Fiorentino and sports agent Michael Huyghue. Jacksonville’s business community, however, has been Bush’s wellspring. Some of the area’s largest employers have opened their arms and their wallets to embrace the governor as their man for another four years.
“Financially, Duval County surprises a lot of people,” said Munz. “Northeast Florida carries a lot of weight.”
Indeed, some of Jacksonville’s largest companies with far-reaching networks have sided with Bush, including real estate giant St. Joe Companies, Winn-Dixie, Herb Peyton’s Gate companies and Modis Professional Services. Prominent local businessmen also dot Bush’s contribution list, including Wayne Weaver, John Rood, Tom Petway, Matt Carlucci and W.W. Gay.
“North Florida has become a good solid base for Jeb Bush,” said business owner and City Council president Carlucci. “I think Jacksonville is a good base for him and I think it’s also a good fundraising stop for him. We have played a major role in electing President George W. Bush and I think we have played a pretty major role in Jeb Bush getting elected.”
After pulling more than $1 million dollars from Northeast Florida, some feel there is still more money available for the governor if he wants it.
“I don’t think he’s tapped out,” said Fiorentino. “I think there is another tier. His philosophy seems to appeal to folks in North Florida — less taxes and less government — and people seem to take to it.”
After the 2000 presidential election, Jeb Bush’s popularity was questionable. His administration came under scrutiny after it effectively propelled his brother, George, to the White House.
“I think even the Jeb people were getting a little concerned that they were going to have a serious race on their hands, but that has since gone away,” said Slade.
Since Sept. 11, the president’s approval rating has skyrocketed, which could benefit his younger brother.
“Any time we can get presidential support for the governor for reelection, we’re doing OK,” said Munz.
Libby agreed that the public’s opinion of the president could translate well for his brother. He also offered another reason for a possible Bush triumph in November.
“We see it not just from the Bush name but from Sept. 11,” he said. “Post-Sept. 11, there’s been a bump in the way people feel about the president and congress and even down to city officials. Pre-Sept. 11, the American public had kind of a jaundiced view of what government was.”
Whether on the coattails of his brother’s popularity or of his own accord, local Republican leaders are quick to announce Jeb Bush as the victor in November.
“I think he’s very popular,” said Libby. “Statewide polling numbers have him with a tremendous lead over the two Democratic candidates [Reno and McBride]. They have a lot of ground to cover. I think Jeb Bush will be our next governor.”
Added Slade: “I don’t see any way he could lose it unless they catch him holding up a bank.”