Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre has filed paperwork in Tallahassee for his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S Senate election.
While the Ferre campaign has raised $130,000, including $20,000 from a loan, the campaign had less than $3,500 cash on hand at the end of the first quarter of 2010. This is a fraction of the funds that Ferres chief rival for the Democratic nomination, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, has raised. Meek had more than $3.7 million cash on hand at the end of the same period.
Im running without any money, Ferre said. But I refuse to accept the cynics who say that we in America cant be elected on our ideals and positions.
Ferre, who turns 75 this summer, focused on his experience, saying that he had 25 years in both the private and the public sector. He served as mayor of Miami from 1973 until 1985 and also had stints in the Florida House and on the Dade County Board of Commissioners.
He said the U.S. Senate is a place for seasoned political leaders who know the value of working together, adding that one of the chief problems in Washington and Florida is that element is missing in politicians.
Ferre said he plans to take the fight to Meek and will issue a challenge to his opponent next week for a series of debates.
Ferres already blasting Meek for not standing up in Congress against tax breaks for Diageo, the London-based spirits maker that is pushing to manufacture Captain Morgan rum in the Virgin Islands instead of Puerto Rico.
I would like to know how much Diageo has given the Black Congressional Caucus and how much of the money was used for parties in D.C. while Meek was in charge of the Congressional Caucus Foundation, Ferre said, noting that the federal policy on Diageo favored 100,000 U.S. citizens in the Virgin Islands over the 4 million citizens in Puerto Rico. I dont think to this day that Kendrick Meek has taken a position.
Looking at national issues, Ferre was particularly critical of Goldman Sachs and other investment companies. These guys were betting against their customers, he said. Thats not American.
Ferre compared the current situation to that of the 1920s. Looking back even further, Ferre praised the banking regulations that Theodore Roosevelts presidency pursued which, he said, were undone by Roosevelts handpicked heir apparent, William Howard Taft.
Saying he would reach out to moderates, Ferre said he would make a better candidate in the general election than Meek. Ferre said Meek had voted with Democrats in Congress 98.6 percent of the time. He noted that successful Senate candidates -- naming Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles and Bill Nelson -- voted with congressional Democrats 70 to 80 percent of the time.
If youre not a centrist Democrat, you cant be elected to statewide office in Florida, said Ferre, who said moderate Democrats in the northern part of the state will be attracted to his campaign.
I have a practical, get-the-job-done approach to politics, said Ferre. I have political guts, the ability to say no. I think we need bold strategies to complicated problems.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859.
