As term winds down, Bush's allies tout governor's legacy (Jeb) [View All]

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As term winds down, Bush's allies tout governor's legacy


Aim is to fend off lame-duck perception

By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
Posted August 22 2005


Seventeen months before he leaves office, Jeb Bush and some of his most loyal supporters are preparing a public-relations offensive to promote the governor's record on reforming Florida's education system.

Bush allies last month quietly incorporated the Foundation for Florida's Future, a nonprofit group that will concentrate on touting Bush's record on schools. It's a relaunch of a public policy foundation that preceded his 1998 gubernatorial campaign, but this time is organized to be a potentially potent political advocacy group.

"We're just getting this started," said Mandy Fletcher, a former Bush-Cheney presidential campaign staffer who is the part-time executive director of the new foundation. "It's an issue-advocacy organization to promote the policies and achievements that the state has seen under the leadership of Gov. Jeb Bush."

In a brief e-mail response to questions, Bush said the foundation will supplement his own bully pulpit efforts.

"This will only enhance our commitment to education and our effort to make sure every child in FL succeeds," he wrote.


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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fjeb22aug22,0,2452785.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines