CAN POLK COUNTY BE IMPORTANT TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty seems to believe so. After all, you can't ignore 124,172 registered Democrats. Or, for that matter, 115,430 registered Republicans. The four major gubernatorial candidates would be ill advised not to make "Imperial Polk" County a key element of their I-4 Corridor strategy.

This could just be the election that begins a resurgence of the Polk County Democratic Party, which during the past decade has seen it's stock fall faster than Enron. Plagued by harsh infighting and weak support for their candidates, there are currently no Democrats in partisan elective positions, and only four in non-partisan posts: Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards, Clerk of the Courts Richard Weiss, Public Defender J. Marion Moorman, and Tax Collector Joe Tedder.

The local Democratic organization's situation has improved during the past year, thanks to strong leadership from Dr. William (Bill) Kremer (who recently resigned in preperation to move out of state) and attorney Richard Blank. The party's financial status has improved significantly, and the Executive Committee seems to be working more as a team instead of factions battling for control. Presently, the main problem seems to be finding good candidates willing to challenge locally entrenched incumbants who would enjoy (at least initally) far superior financial advantage.

The governor's race is getting Democrats here in Polk, as elsewhere, excited. Last week's appearance at the local Tiger Bay Club gathering in Bartow by Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa and State Senator Rod Smith of Alachua brought out the party faithful, and Rufty reports this morning that both candidates have attracted supporters from the Polk area.

Among the names from the local Democratic community supporting Davis: Tax Collector Joe Tedder (who served with Davis in the Florida House "back in the day"), former State Representative Tom Mims of Lakeland, and attorney Robin Gibson of Lake Wales (one of the founding leaders in that city's charter school district).

Supporting Smith: Former State Representative Dean Saunders of Lakeland (Saunders' and Smith's wives are related), former State Senator Rick Dantzler of Winter Haven, Clerk of the Courts Richard Weiss, and Ben Hill Griffin III of the citrus/cattle family.

This is not to say that the GOP won't be paying attention here during the next several months. State CFO Tom Gallagher was in Lakeland recently for a fundraiser, and I'm certain that Attorney General Charlie Crist will be a regular in the area as well.

As the saying goes..."The Game Is On". At least, it's beginning to warm up.