Miami Dolphin Karl Noonan *
I met Karl in the real estate business in the early 90′s in Miami. We formed a real estate syndication company for group purchases of improved real estate–primarily apartment buildings. Karl, as my sports fan readers know, Karl was a consensus Associated Press All American end from the University of Iowa who went on to become an All Pro receiver for Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese and the Miami Dolphins. Karl was very kind to support my political campaigns and helped draw attention to me when few noticed. Karl continues in business, primarily in North Carolina investments. I often kidded him saying the wrong guy ran for office–I think Karl would have been as popular in public office as his former teammate and my chairmate on the floor of the Senate from 1978-1982, Dick Anderson.
Senator David McClain (R., Tampa)*
Senator David McClain followed his late father into the Senate in 1970, representing Tampa as a Republican when there were very few. I had a chance to get to know him and work with him on the Senate Committee on Health and Rehabilitative Services and Appropriations Subcommittee “C,” funding heath care and the criminal justice system. David was very smart and yet cunning in that he left the impression that he was distant and not following the debate. Over the years, I found him to be very supportive of many issues in the areas of disabilities and mental health, and when we did disagree, we agreed to it in advance. I had a pleasant ‘catch up with you’ chat with David at the recent Senate reunion in the Capitol. He is yet another example of a strongly partisan Republican Senator conducting himself in a civil and productive manner about issues with an equally partisan Democratic Senator, during an earlier time in Florida politics. Senator McClain is a friend and served his Tampa district with distinction.
Lobbyist Dick Jones
Dick was one of the most popular lobbyists in the Capitol during the Golden Years of the ’70′s and ’80′s. He represented Florida Power and Light Company after a successful career in politics and the automobile industry. He and his wife, Pat, hosted legislators every year at their wonderful Northeast Tallahassee home, and some of the Session’s most important bills were often resolved right in their residence. Dick passed a few years ago, and as expected, the Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee was packed with Dick’s old friends and some of the most powerful politicians from both the Florida and Washington Capitols. His civility and sense of humor will always be his lobbying hallmark.
Lobbyist Dick McFarland
Dick has an outstanding, but very straight faced sense of humor. I remember one committee meeting when he was ably representing the Florida Bar Association but became faced with an unexpected tough question and quipped back to a Senator, “Sir, in responding to your important question, I feel like I am standing on a slab of granite rock with my foot firmly placed on a slippery banana peel.” He said this without even cracking a smile. Dick has been a mainstay in the Capitol for many years commanding the attention of the lawmakers, especially those of greater intellect. One more recent client of his has been the Florida State University, which has needed a barrister of his elk to navigate the Gator infested halls of the Capitol. As you can tell, Dick has always been a favorite lobbyist of mine over his many years of service.
W. Dexter Douglass, Esquire
Dexter Douglass is an attorney’s attorney. Most jurists recognize the former General Counsel to the late Florida Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles, legal counsel to the legendary 2000 presidential vote count (representing Vice President Al Gore) and in one of Florida’s highest profile indictments, representing former Florida Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallory Horne against the Federal government. I worked with Dexter when we were both on the staff of Governor Chiles in the early ’90′s. Although his brilliance was apparent, even for a non lawyer like me, I was most impressed with his down home personality. He grew up in the south and graduated with honors from the University Florida School of Law. Dexter is still active in providing legal and political counsel to public figures who are smart enough to seek it.
Representative Elaine Bloom (D., Miami Beach)*
Elaine had the distinction of winning and re-winning election to the Florida House of Representatives with some 30 odd years in between. She and I were first elected in 1974–she upsetting incumbent Representative George Baumgartner of North Miami. Elaine was singled out in her first term by Speaker Don Tucker as a possible running mate if he ran for Governor in 1978, as was widely expected. With many members of the Dade Delegation at odds with the Speaker, Elaine became somewhat ostracized and had a difficult couple of years in the House. When Tucker decided to seek an appointment by President Carter to the Federal Government, Elaine decided to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator George Firestone (D., Miami). Although she was the choice of the lobbyists in Tallahassee, her opponent, Representative Paul Steinberg (D., Miami Beach) out worked her in the Miami Beach condominiums and he won the seat. She came back to the House in the 2000′s.
Representative Gwen Cherry (D., Miami)*
Gwen was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1970. I first met her in 1972 while I was campaigning for a House Seat. She was very friendly and seemed most interested in children’s and mental health issues, both of which were of interest to me. After I got elected, I did not have a chance to work with Gwen before she died in a tragic automobile accident in the late 70′s near Doak Campbell Stadium at the Florida State University. She was memorialized in the House of Representatives and her name is still recognized today as one of the leaders of the woman’s movement and African-American issues. She was a lawyer, professor, and skilled legislator who was lost way too soon in her promising professional career.
Senate Secretary Joe Brown
Few outside the legislature understand the critical importance of their staff. I have previously profiled Dr. Allen Morris and his Emeritus Clerk of the House Colleague, John Phelps, two of the best administrators with whom I have worked. In the Senate, I worked with another of my profilees, the powerful Howard Walton. At the same time, the Secretary of the Senate was rock solid and hard working Joe Brown. The Secretary was always available for either big or small, simple or complex challenges of any of the Senators, regardless of party affiliation. Joe retired a
A Special Florida Family*
Senator Randolph Hodges (D., Cedar Key) served as Senate President during the delicate and critical transition of control of the Florida politics by the Pork Chop Gang (of which he was a proud member) to the new, urban, and progressive legislators of the Golden Era (’70′s and ’80′s). President Hodges was followed into public office by his son and former Judge, State Representative Gene Hodges (D., Cedar Key)–one of the best liked members of the legislature, during my tenure. One of Gene’s sisters married Don Duden, who went on to assume the number two position in the Florida Department of Natural Resources. All in all, the Hodges family was special in Florida political history and to my family as well.
Health and Rehabilitative Services Secretary Ollie Keller
Most would have described the Senate Confirmation hearings on Governor Reubin Askew’s selection of Health and Rehabilitative Secretary Ollie Keller in 1976 as the “Battle of the Titans.” That is because the President of the Senate was Askew’s long time colleague and the Dean of the Senate, Dempsey Barron, who strongly opposed the appointment of Keller. Askew, a former U.S. Army Paratrooper, was not known for running from a fight, so it was “Prime Time,” in the Florida Capitol. Barron won and Keller stepped down from head of the mammoth agency to take a teaching job at the University of Florida.
University of Miami President Tad Foote*
Tad Foote followed a legendary University of Miami President, Dr. Henry King Stanford (profiled in an earlier Quorum Call), but certainly held his own as a visionary President of the acclaimed University in my legislative district. Tad married the daughter of former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, so he had access and connections at the highest levels of government. But after being named the head of one of the country’s leading private universities, he set a course for even greater academic excellence. President Foote was very kind to name me to the UM School of Business Visiting Committee, so I had a chance to witness the University growth first hand. The only blemish on his record was the sometimes out of control athletic program, which ironically, led to several football national championships. But, all in all, Tad Foote was an outstanding president at the “U.”
U. S. Senator Paula Hawkins
Senator Paula Hawkins was dubbed, “The little old lady from Maitland,” after a turbulent but brief career on the Florida Public Service Commission. She defeated a good friend, former Senator Gerald Lewis to win a Public Service Commission seat, and that upset convinced her that no election was out of her reach–that was until 1986, when she was defeated by two term Governor and immensely popular Bob Graham. Senator Hawkins was not terribly effective in Washington, but she was colorful and unpredictable, which made her fun to cover for the press. I met the Senator on a number of occasions, but her comments and observations to me were not notable.
Judge Bill Gladstone
I first met the Judge at a Board Meeting of the Miami Mental Health Association. He stood out as an obvious intellectual and Susan and I went on to become good friends with he and his wife, Marilyn. Bill ran for a new seat on the Circuit Court with his eye on the family court in 1972, and won. Judge Gladstone went on to an outstanding career on the Bench, forcing people’s eyes open on the unmentionable blights in disadvantaged families. When I was in the Legislature, I felt Judge Gladstone’s wrath for the pitiful level of funding for mental health services in Florida. He was a provocative thinker who did not shy away from a fight. It is said so often, but is really true with Judge Bill Gladstone, ‘Boy could we use him today.’
Secretary of Commerce Bill Sutton*
In Miami, the Sutton name is both recognized and respected. Judge Ruth Sutton and the former Secretary of Commerce Bill Sutton are perhaps the best known members of the family. Bill is a career banker and one of the best, rising to the presidency of the Florida Bankers Association. I first met Bill through the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and subsequently worked with him on Governor Chile’s Recycling Business Ventures program (as reported in a previous post to this Blog) as well as an advisor to my employer, Fringe Benefits Management Company in Tallahassee. Bill ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress from Tallahassee, but remains active in business and political affairs.
Sarasota Tax Collector Barbara Ford Coates*
I have had the good fortune of meeting and working with public sector employees all the way from the President to Governors, Senators and to entry level clerks. One of the very best public employees I have gotten to know and work with is the Honorable Barbara Ford Coates, long time Tax Collector from Sarasota County
One Comment on "Quorum Call"
Robert:
Can’t argue with any of these entries! The late Paul Rodgers was one of my very first TV interviews back in 1976 and he remains, to my mind, one of the most genteel and articulate advocates Congress has ever had.
Art