Florida Democratic Party (FDP) Chair Karen Thurman stepped down Friday – ending a six-year reign as party chief in the wake of sweeping losses in this month’s elections.
Former state Sen. Rod Smith, gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink’s running mate, is being advanced as Thurman’s likely successor, with the outgoing chairman Friday calling members of the Democratic Executive Committee promoting his candidacy. The former Gainesville-area prosecutor also has the backing of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the lone statewide Democratic elected official.
Smith told the News Service of Florida on Friday night that he planned to make an announcement about running for the post at the beginning of next week. A January election is planned.
“I certainly have had some encouraging phone calls,” Smith said. “But we are Democrats, and we always have a lot of opinions….I am leaning toward it. But I am also willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we have a chairman Democrats are comfortable with from Pensacola to Key West.”
Thurman’s departure is sure to signal another period of retooling and self-examination. The party continues to hold a commanding position among registered voters, yet its place in state government has been reduced to the fringe with Election Day’s defeat of Democratic candidates in the U.S. Senate and governor’s races, the loss of four congressional seats and seven legislative districts formerly held by Democrats.
Several other Democratic activists have expressed interest in the post, although many have said they would step aside if Smith wants the job. Miami-Dade County Democratic Chair Richard Lydecker was initially pushed by Nelson, who has since converted to Smith. Hillsborough County State Committeeman Alan Clendenin, and outgoing state House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Weston also have talked of running.
But, generally, there seem to be few candidates committed enough to challenge Smith if he emerges as the consensus choice of most Democratic elected officials.
“Anyone who is willing to take the helm of the Florida Democratic Party at this time must be a fighter,” said Mitch Caesar, Broward County Democratic chairman and a former state party leader. “It’s looking like a long way back.”
Thurman, a former member of Congress and state legislator, plans to retire, a move she said was planned regardless of the elections’ outcome. But Nov. 2 was brutal for Florida Democrats, undoubtedly sealing Thurman’s decision to head toward the exits.
“I have been honored by the trust and confidence you have placed upon me to lead our efforts to empower the grassroots and build a lasting infrastructure for our party,” Thurman said in a letter to party leaders.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine praised Thurman for building an effective party infrastructure, a strong grassroots network, and modernizing the operations of the Florida Democratic Party. Not mentioned, though, were any significant victories on Thurman’s watch – which included shepherding the party through two unsuccessful governor’s races and a rollercoaster record in legislative and congressional contests.
The Obama presidential victory in 2008 – in which the Democratic nominee carried Florida – proved the chief highlight for a party which lost the governor’s office in 1998 and the Legislature in 1996, but still holds an almost 600,000-voter edge over Republicans in the state.
“Her focused efforts to empower our party’s grassroots activists will continue to benefit Democrats across Florida,” Kaine said.
The incoming House Democratic leader, Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, said Thurman left the party in a strong financial position and oversaw a reorganization of party staff that will benefit her successor, whoever that may be.
“It was a tough election cycle,” Saunders said. “I don’t think any one person can take the credit or the blame for how it came out.”
Ron Sachs, a Tallahassee public relations executive who served as communications director for late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, said the party should learn lessons from this fall’s defeat. But he also cautioned against blaming Florida’s results solely on a national tidal wave favoring Republicans.
“The Democratic Party is out of step with mainstream Florida right now,” Sachs said. “The party has not had a good message, or good messengers. They’ve got to change that, from the top to the bottom.”
By John Kennedy
The News Service of Florida
