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“‘FREE AGENT’ LOGAN WORKING WITH GOP”
March 9, 1999
by David Royse, The Associated Press
The wound that opened last year when House Democrats ousted a black lawmaker as their leader hasn’t healed. But for Rep. Willie Logan who, thanks to the snub, is not the party’s leader in this year’s week-old lawmaking session, that’s just fine. His party’s not in power anyway, so Democrats don’t have much to offer his constituents in Opa-locka, he said. Republicans can do more for his bills. “I’m free to vote based upon how I feel as a representative of my constituency,” Logan said. Logan remains the “free agent” he proclaimed himself after last year’s decision by Democrats to replace him as speaker-designate with Rep. Anne Mackenzie of Fort Lauderdale, who is white and no longer in the Legislature. Logan supported Republican Jeb Bush for governor, widening the gulf between himself and the party. He was joined by other black Lawmakers -- many of whom, like Logan, aren’t attending Democratic Caucus meetings. “My issue right now primarily is to work with the Republicans to do the best job I possibly can to represent my constituents in the process,” said Rep. Rudy Bradley, D-St. Petersburg. “We were loyal and they didn’t appreciate our loyalty, so we have to move on and work with those individuals willing to work with us.” That’s easier to do when the Republicans have a 71-47 majority in the House. Logan admits if the Democrats were in power, it would be more difficult to be a “free agent.” And he still works with them. “I realize that many of the issues that I care about are issues that members of the Democratic Party care about,” he said. I must remain in contact with those members and have a working relationship with them.” Logan’s relationship with Bush and GOP leaders may be tested by Logan’s priority for the legislative session -- bringing home money for projects in his district. Bush has promised to fight pet projects -- commonly called turkeys -- that don’t have statewide benefits. “Call it what you want to call it -- turkeys, member projects, special projects, Logan’s payoff . . .They make a big difference in the community.” Unsure she could repair the rift, Mackenzie quit the Legislature in the aftermath of the Logan debacle. A black lawmaker, Rep. Les Miller, D-Tampa, was chosen to be the Democratic House leader. Bradley and another black Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Beryl Roberts of Miami, have been given committee chairmanships by the Republican leadership, leading to further mistrust. “When the speaker calls a meeting with his chairmen and there’s two Democratic members you know that are in the meeting, its going to be looked at suspect,” said Rep. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. “You’ve got to be concerned of what strategies you are using and whether those strategies go right back out to the other side.” |
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