The head of the Florida Democratic Party blasted a rebellious faction of her party's House caucus Wednesday, less than a week before members are set to vote on a leader for the 2015 legislative session.
In an interview with The News Service of Florida, Chairwoman Allison Tant said House Democrats should move on after an ugly defeat in this year's legislative elections instead of trying to oust incoming Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. Last week, Rep. Dwayne Taylor of Daytona Beach announced he would challenge Pafford for the position.
"We have to marshal our energies, put on our big-girl pants and move the heck down the road," Tant said. "The bed-wetters need to shut up, and we need to move on."
Tant's unusually harsh criticism was a sign of her frustration with the infighting that has plagued House Democrats for almost two years. Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, won a hotly contested leadership fight in February 2013 for the right to lead the caucus after this year's elections, but was later ousted following a fundraising dispute with Tant.
Pafford was then elected last fall to lead Democrats, but some members of the caucus were reportedly working to engineer his removal this past spring. After Democrats lost six seats in last week's elections --- essentially sidelining the party in the House for the next two years --- Taylor said he would challenge Pafford at a caucus meeting scheduled for Monday.
"When you look at the divisiveness that's been going on, how do you think they're going to win races when they're fighting each other? Mark Pafford should have been able to put together his team without any of all of this noise," said Tant, who added that contributors have called her concerned about the fracas.
"Why anybody thinks that this kind of craziness is good for the caucus or for the Florida Democratic Party or for any Florida Democrat is beyond me," Tant said.
Taylor did not immediately respond Wednesday to a phone message seeking comment.
Incoming Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, said Wednesday that Pafford has enough support to keep his position. Asked how many votes Pafford has, Jenne said "more than he had the last time he ran," when Pafford won on a 29-12 vote with one abstention.
Jenne said he hoped the caucus could avoid a contested election next week.
"It's just not necessary," he said. "The votes are where they are."
Meanwhile, Pafford announced that he would keep Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, as the No. 2 Democrat in the House. Rouson narrowly defeated Jones last year when he won the initial race for leader of the caucus.
"I look forward to working with Mark to solidify the caucus as one body, to recognize the importance of standing as one, and fighting as one, for the things we believe in," Jones said in a release announcing her appointment. "Now it really becomes a greater responsibility to stand united as Democrats to fight for what'?s most important to us."
News Service of Florida reporter Margie Menzel contributed to this report.
