Media forum for candidates draws out political fireworks

SARASOTA -- Eager to rev up his suddenly troubled campaign, Bill McCollum on Thurday vowed as governor to mandate that all local governments freeze property taxes for at least two years.

``A [tax rate] freeze is going to make local governments make the same tough choices I'm going to make at the state level,'' the Republican attorney general told news editors at a Florida Press Association and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors convention in Sarasota.

Republican gubernatorial front-runner Rick Scott missed the event, but it was still the largest single gathering of major statewide candidates to date in this hectic political year. It produced some striking moments:

• Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, who has been hazy on his immigration position, for the first time said he would not support Florida pursuing a tough anti-illegal immigration law like the one passed recently in Arizona: ``I think it should be solved at the federal level.''

• Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent for U.S. Senate, said he no longer supports Florida's ban against gay couples adopting children: ``A better way and approach would be to let judges make that decision on a case-by-case basis.''

• McCollum professed to be unaware of the activities of two stealth political committees attacking front-runner Rick Scott on TV -- even though McCollum's campaign advisors are directing the committees' spending and he has been urging supporters to contribute to one of them.

• Not exactly pandering to the assembled media, McCollum waxed about the limits of open government in the state legislature: ``I'm not sure the Legislature is the place for open government,'' he said. ``I was a legislator and you can't negotiate and do deals in the Legislature and get business done in 60 days or 90 days or whatever your session may be with open government.''

• Little-known Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Alex Snitker of Pasco County crashed the candidate forum, snatching a microphone and demanding speaking time.

``Let me speak! Come on, media!,'' shouted Snitker, who is among more than a dozen candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot for Senate.

A moderator explained that only candidates who have received at least 10 percent support in a credible poll were invited. He let Snitker vent for several minutes before the candidate stormed out.

``You are stopping the freedom of speech of someone who spent eight years defending your right to do it,'' Snitker, a former Marine, shouted at the uncomfortable media executives.

Also speaking were Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, the Miami congressman, and Democratic challenger Jeff Greene, a Palm Beach real estate magnate and billionaire political newcomer who is spending millions on TV.

Highlighting how rough that primary is becoming, Meek derided Greene as a carpetbagger who made hundreds of millions betting on the housing market collapse.

``Not one Florida homeowner lost a penny because of the investments I made,'' said Greene.

Greene said that unlike Meek he at least understood what was happening with the economy. He also alluded to an ongoing scandal in which a developer for whom Meek sought federal funds paid Meek's mother, former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, for consulting work and bought her a Cadillac.

Referring to his own elderly mother, Greene said, ``She won't be doing any consulting She won't be getting an Escalade.''

Adam C. Smith can be reached at asmith@ sptimes.com.

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