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Sink Likes Being CFO, Won't Run For Senate

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By WILLIAM MARCH

wmarch@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

TAMPA - Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was considered a likely frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in next year's election.

But Friday, Sink said she won't seek that office and instead will run for re-election as the state's top financial officer.

Her move all but guarantees a primary battle among a large crowd of candidates with no clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to replace Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, who has announced he won't seek re-election in 2010.

One of those candidates, State Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, announced his entry into the race immediately after Sink withdrew. Gelber said he had intended to back Sink.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek has announced he'll run, and U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello has said he's seriously considering it.

Sink's withdrawal puts the Democrats in the same situation as the Republicans. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who would have been the prohibitive GOP favorite, announced two weeks ago that he won't run.

If Gov. Charlie Crist also stays out, as most Republicans expect, a crowded, competitive GOP primary seems certain.

In a statement to supporters Friday, Sink said, "I believe my skills and abilities are of greatest use here in Florida."

A retired bank executive, she has said she considers herself better suited to an executive role rather than a legislative one. She says she eventually may seek the governor's office.

"She really likes the job, and she thinks she's helping," said her husband, Tampa lawyer Bill McBride.

In Tallahassee, Sink has become the most prominent Democratic critic of the GOP-dominated state government, particularly on financial issues.

Most recently, she criticized the Legislature's decision to balance the state budget in part by withdrawing $700 million from the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund. Interest from that fund has provided some $55 million a year to underwrite health programs for children and the elderly.

Sink's withdrawal means a wide-open Democratic primary, said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett.

"Probably five or six candidates, and none of them will have a big lead going in because they won't have statewide name recognition," he said.

Most expected candidates in both parties, including members of Congress and state legislators, are known on their home turf but not statewide.

"The average Floridian doesn't really know Congress members or state legislators from other parts of the state," he said. "Half the time they don't even know their own."

One exception may be Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum, who holds a statewide office.

Gelber's entry in the race gives the Democrats two candidates dividing up their South Florida base.

A former federal prosecutor, Gelber is viewed as a moderate within the party despite his base in comparatively liberal South Florida, and he has been one of the most outspoken members of the Democratic minority in the Legislature.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com.

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