Jim Davis for Governor

[seasat]

I met Jim several years ago at one of his quarterly meeting with constituents at the Columbia in Ybor City. I attended several after that even though I was not one of his constituents (I'm in C.W. Young's district). I was very impressed with his knowledge and honesty. He would answer any question that you asked in a straightforward manner and displayed a great deal of knowledge about the issues.

Jim Davis is a professional legislator. He draws no other significant income other than what he earns as a US representative. He has only been married once and is very protective of his family's privacy. Both his kids attend public school. He is native Floridian and with a degree in law from the University of Florida.

For the record, I'm not on his campaign staff and don't have time to volunteer other than to provide this brief summary of his legislative career. This has not been approved by his campaign and is my work. Most of this is from his congressional website.

Here are a few things about Jim Davis that support my decision to vote for him. Being in Congress there are number of votes that can be misconstrued in negative advertising but here is some legislation that Jim has sponsored in the past along with ratings and statements from Democratic supporting groups on his overall voting record. The amount of legislation sponsored by Jim Davis that has passed in congress is average. However, this is remarkable for a Democrat that has spent most of his time in a Republican controlled congress. Especially since The National Journal has ranked Jim Davis on the liberal side for his stance on issues.

Jim Davis is strong on the environment.

Jim has supported and sponsored legislation to protect Florida's coast from offshore drilling. (LINK)

He opposed drilling in ANWR. (LINK)

He has sponsored a new clean air act. (LINK)

In 1994, he fought back an amendment to the 94 Everglades Act that allowed the Army Corp to drain a 6000 acre pond and pollute Florida Bay. This earned him a special commendation from the League of Conservation Voters.

Here are some other comments on his record (LINK):

"Davis always votes the right way," said David Guest, managing attorney for Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental watchdog group.

"Davis has got a green heart," said Eric Draper, a lobbyist for Audubon of Florida who was Davis' staff director in the House.

Linda Young, Southeast director of the Clean Water Network, recalls being impressed with Davis when the two met at a conference on sustainable living

"He's much more of an intellectual and a thinking man than the other three" candidates, said Gluckman. "He's far more open to new approaches and new ideas." (longtime lobbyist for the Florida Wildlife Federation.)

He has excellent scores on his voting record with environmental groups. In 2005 he ranked 89% with the League of Conservation Voters (100% in 2003 and 2004) and 100% with the American Wilderness Coalition. He received the endorsement of the Sierra Club for Democratic Candidate for Governor.

On environmental issues, Davis is the clear choice.

Jim Davis led the fight against the Terry Shiavo pandering by republicans in Congress.

Jim Davis led the charge to bring the issue to the public giving an impassioned speech (included in link below) against the Republican interference in this matter. His leadership forced Tom Delay and his cohorts to open the debate so all of us could see their hypocrisy instead of sneaking it through at midnight.

Micheal Shiavo's Pac has endorsed Jim Davis for Governor:

“Even though my private family issues became a national spectacle, they had no business being debated by politicians who did not know me or Terri,” Schiavo said. “Congressman Davis was one of the very few leaders with the courage to place conviction above politics, stand for the rule of law and respect our privacy.”

Congressman Jim Davis is seeking to replace term-limited Governor Jeb Bush who repeatedly attempted to use the power of his office to illegally interfere and overturn the legal and private decisions of Michael Schiavo and his family.

“A Governor is supposed to be a leader,” Schiavo said. “I know Jim Davis will be Governor who respects the role of families, honors the law and understands that true public servants should not be in the business of telling Americans how to run their lives.”

(LINK)

Jim Davis supports workers.

He sponsored legislation for tax credits to encourage companies in job training (LINK)

He cosponsored HR 1696 which stated:

To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

He regularly votes for increases in the minimum wage.

In 2005 he was ranked from 86% to 100% by labor organiztions.

Jim Davis supports sensible health policy.

He introduced legislation to provide a real prescription drug benefit (LINK).

He sponsored a bill to protect the elderly from being kicked out of nursing homes (LINK)

He sponsored legislation to protect online purchases of prescription drugs (LINK)

He opposed the Bush prescription drug plan.

Jim Davis is strong on education.

He sponsored the Transition to Teaching act (LINK).

He introduced legislation requiring students to study government and history (LINK)

He is a vocal opponent of vouchers and has strongly criticized Jebbie's educational programs.

He has a 100% rating from the NEA.

Jim Davis has the most liberal view on relations with Cuba.

He traveled to Cuba in 2003 as part of a congressional delegation.

He sponsored a bill on reduced travel restrictions for Cubans to visit their families (LINK).

He sponsored a bill allowing more humanitarian aid from Cuban Americans to their families back home (LINK)

He is the only one of the top four candidates that supports overturning Jebbie's restriction on travel to Cuba for cultural exchanges between academics and students (LINK).

Jim Davis supports fair trade.

He voted against CAFTA because it did not provide enough protections for labor and the environment (LINK)

He generally supports free trade. Increased trade benefits Florida with our many ports.

He has a mixed rating from the CATO institute on trade issues ranging from 44% one year to 78% in another.

Other legislation Jim Davis has sponsored.

(Strengthening sex offender registration and notification)

(Homeowners Insurance Availability Act)

(Desalination Bill to address water shortages

Jim Davis has an over 90% rating on voting on issues important to the NAACP.

[BlueJazz]

1. It's amazing ..isn't it? If you've been watching the Political Ads ...

...in Florida, you constantly hear:
Jim Davis is a Liberal..He's a Liberal!! (Like as if that's something akin to a piece of shit)

I laugh at the idiots that keep saying: "Endorsed by Jeb Bush" ..as if that is
suppose to be a Good Thing and my favorite: "I'm a Ronald Reagan Republican"
(Oh..You mean you're a senile crooked idiot that will run up the National Debt
to unbelievable heights while screwing the poor and the middle class?)

As for Jim Davis...Love the Guy.. :)

[iamjoy]

4. Worries Me - Can't Beat Crist

Of course, Smith can't either - his numbers are slightly better, but still neither of them wins.


http://strategicvision.biz/political/florida_poll_083006.htm

[seasat]

5. That's because of the negative campaigning.

It has hurt both of the Democrats. Jim Davis was saving his advertising budget until closer to the election and was probably planning on mainly positive supportive ads. The attack ads from Corporate Sugar forced him to respond in kind. Unfortunately those attack ads increased Jim's negatives and the ties to Corporate Sugar increased Rod's negatives. I know some liberals that will now not vote for Smith but will vote for Crist instead.

However, Gallagher's attacks on Crist have boosted Crist among the average Florida resident. They've made him out to be a more moderate candidate.

Hopefully whichever Democrat emerges from the primary can sooth some of the sore feelings and return the focus to policies instead of attacks on esoteric votes.

[Orangepeel]

6. nasty as it was, it's no worse than the general will be

Personally, I'm impressed with the speed and vigor with which Jim Davis has responded to the attacks.

Thinking back to the start of this race, many months ago, the main disadvantage that Davis had compared to Smith was the perception that he was too mild to wage a good fight. Smith was the one with the fire. In addition to improving his speech making skills exponentially since the start of the race, Davis has proved his ability to stand up against scurrilous false attacks. I'm proud of him.

The good thing is, after $4 million dollars and incredible amounts of airtime, Davis' negatives are unlikely to go much lower (and they still aren't that bad, amazingly, because he's been so good at fighting back). He's likely to be nearly at his floor.

Now, this race will be tough, no doubt. Anybody who thought it was going to be easy never worked against Crist before. The man has the luck of the devil. But Davis still has a chance, especially after Harris wins the primary.

[seasat]

7. I agree.

Jim's disapproval rating in the last Mason Dixon poll had only risen from margin of error to 8% while Smith's disapproval had risen from about the same to 16%. I think Jim will play best against Charlie Crist. Jim's been very consistent on issues while Charlie has jumped all over the place.

Jim may also appeal to some social conservatives better than Crist. He is a stable family guy versus a bachelor. I also saw where it has come out that Crist signed a paternity form allowing a child to be put up for adoption in '89. He claims that it wasn't actually his child but he did it so the adoption could go through.

If Big Sugar jumps in on Charlie's side, I think the pro-Everglades 527 will provide a good counter to them and allow supporters to funnel more money to Jim Davis's campaign.

[Orangepeel]

2. Here are some of the people who have endorsed him

(in addition to seasat and orangepeel! :- ). The list ranges from Robert Wexler to Pete Peterson. Man, that spans the Democratic gamut!

National/Federal/Statewide Leaders:

Senator Bob Graham
"Jim Davis has what it takes to be a great governor – a hardworking commitment to serving people, a maturity beyond his years, a fearless sense of the problems we face and a vision of the enormous potential we have. Jim Davis has the independence and integrity Floridians expect from their leaders, and a record of bringing people together from all political backgrounds and all parts of the state to get things done. Jim Davis can do job one – he can win. And he can do the job when he becomes Governor because he has integrity that is second to none. He will be able to lead because people throughout Florida can trust his word."

Senator Max Cleland
"If Floridians want a governor who will listen to them, and stand up and fight for what is important to them, then Jim Davis is the man to elect. Jim Davis is a leader with integrity, courage, and principle. He has stood up on Capitol Hill for veterans, Floridians, and all Americans. What veterans need is backup from our leaders and not just rhetoric. We get backup from Jim Davis. Jim Davis is a good man who will be a great governor."

Former Governor Buddy MacKay
"There was a time when Floridians trusted the leaders of this state and trusted that those leaders would stand up and fight for them. The reason past governors like Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles are so popular is because people believed these great men were really on their side. People respected the fact that Graham and Chiles listened to them, understood their concerns and their values, and governed accordingly. Floridians can have that governor again if we elect Jim Davis."

Former First Lady Rhea Chiles
"Jim's a lot like Lawton. And a lot like Bob Graham. And I know that Jim's the man to carry on their legacy.... Jim is a candidate who works as hard as Bob Graham, and stays in touch with the people just like Lawton always did. And I know that Jim will be a Governor we can all be proud of."

Mayor Scott Maddox
"As Democrats, I believe we can take back the governor's mansion next year, but I have increasingly come to believe that we cannot prevail if we are divided as a party. The stakes in this election are simply too high, and Democrats cannot afford to be torn apart in a divisive primary. I am bowing out of the gubernatorial race and giving my support and endorsement to the next Governor of Florida, Jim Davis. I urge all other Democrats to join me."

Congresswoman Corrine Brown
"I have worked with Jim Davis both in the Florida House and in Congress and know him to be a leader Florida can trust. Jim is smart, thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of all people, not just the wealthy and well connected. Jim Davis has the insight and foresight to lead our state, with all of its diversity and changing demographics, making us a real community that is dynamic, caring and progressive."

Congressman Alcee Hastings
"I've worked with Jim Davis for more than 10 years. I know how dedicated he is to doing the right thing for Florida."

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
"Jim Davis is the kind of leader who can unite people across the state and bring an end to the divisiveness that's tearing the state apart. I've worked with him in Congress and the state legislature and know firsthand that he is a man of integrity who puts principles before politics and gets things done."

Congressman Robert Wexler
"I'm supporting Congressman Jim Davis. It's clear to me that he is the best candidate to defeat the Republicans. I am absolutely confident that Congressman Davis will run extremely well in South Florida. He obviously has his base in Tampa and Central Florida. And he's going to do well in North Florida.

It seems evident to me that in many ways the mantle has been passed. It was passed from Bob Graham to Lawton Chiles, and now it's being passed to Jim Davis."


Ambassador Pete Peterson
"Jim Davis is the best Democrat to win back the governor's mansion, in part, because he will appeal to North Florida, rural voters who supported me for three terms in Congress. He knows our issues and concerns, and understands our hopes, values and desires."

Congressman John Lewis
"I have seen America in one of its darker periods. Those who stood up against segregation and discrimination were a courageous group. I know Jim's grandfather was one of those brave souls. And I know firsthand that his grandfather passed that courage, that leadership, those values on to Jim."

State GLBT President, Michael Albetta
"I am personally supporting Jim Davis because I trust Jim Davis. He is honest. He has integrity and he has the strength of his convictions. Politicians often say a lot of the right things while campaigning. Jim Davis actually does the right things while serving the people who elect him."

Many, many, many more here:
http://www.jimdavis2006.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpEndorsements

[Synnical]

3. If that man calls my home phone

One More Time! I will not vote for him!

Leave a flyer on my door ... but do NOT invade my home space! And a recorded message to boot!

[ellenfl]

8. lol, you can have my rod smith calls!

i am so conflicted that i am tempted to let y'all decide who i will vote for in november! i'm leaning toward davis because of graham . . . and now mrs. chiles, among the others. i don't like the big sugar backing of smith and i can't let the fact that he was one of my high school classmates have any weight . . . yet i seem to give it weight. interestingly, one of the pro-smith calls i got was an endorsement from lawton chiles son.

i think graham is going to win me over to davis. i sure wish graham had not resigned!

ellen fl