NEW STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN COMING???

Palm Beach Post political editor Brian E. Crowley noted today that the race for who would be the next Florida Democratic Party chairman has already begun.

Current party chairman Scott Maddox has had his eyes cast on the governor's office for some time, and with Betty Castor deciding not to run next year, Maddox is widely expected to officially announce his candidacy in a week or less.

Three people were named in Crowley's column today as likely frontrunners:

--- Former Congresswoman Karen Thurman of Dunnellon, who Maddox' supporters are saying he is backing.

--- Former Dade County commissioner Jimmy Morales, who lost a bid to become mayor of Miami last year.

--- Leon County Democratic chairman Jon Ausman, a transit program manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.

Maddox was reelected to a second four year term as party chairman with only token opposition, although some activists openly criticized that the reelection was only a stepping stone to a gubernatorial candidacy, and that the idea of seeking a replacement chair would divide party loyalists at a time when Democrats in Florida certainly don't need it. Senator Bill Nelson is particularly concerned, as Republicans have targeted his seat in next year's election.