From the Election Dirty Tricks Handbook: (Identify the weaker candidate in the opponent's primary -- run positive ads on him and negative ads on the one you do not want to run against):
- Opie factor' blamed in upset
The 'Opie factor' is being blamed in an unknown candidate's win. ...Nelson did not sponsor television advertisements, but a citrus-backed group called "Florida's Working Families" promoted him in an ad aired in South Florida. Nelson said he knows nothing about it and is not connected to the group.--
The same group, which has ties to citrus grower Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., and the U.S. Sugar Corp., sponsored attack ads against Barley.--
Barley spent about $250,000 on a 30-second advertisement countering the attack ad, calling her opponents "corporate polluters." 9/12/02
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David Nelson won the primary to become the candidate of the Democratic Party of Florida for commissioner of agriculture and consumer protection.
David won this time with the help of Goliath: a wolf in sheepskin. According to press reports the citrus industry, Citrus Mutual and the powerful Ben Hill Griffin Inc. grove created and financed a brand new organization: "Florida's Working Families"- a deception, speaking in the name of everyday people, but serving the embittered interest of its creators to eliminate in the competition of Mary Barley A serious threat to Bronson's re-election.
It will be interesting to see how this wolf in sheepskin will disappear after it reachd his task of stopping Mary Barley and getting the candidacy for David Nelson. It is doubtful that these industry representatives would help David Nelson with his mere $11,000 fundraising budget against Bronson's 1.2 million dollar contribution collected to bust his campaign. A real fight between David and Goliath.
David, with a honest program represents the interests of consumers and hundreds of thousands of homeowners, whose civil rights are being trampled whose trees are killed in the name of defending the Florida economy and the use of false figures and unscientific arguments. Organizations claiming to represent the entire citrus industry are actually representing only a small section of the industry, the fresh fruit sellers. They represent 10% of the production while 90%, the juice producers are not effected by the epidemic: blemishes on the skin of the fruit do not influence their production.
Bronson and the organizations whom he represents are doing a great disservice to all the citrus growers. They concentrate on their obsession to eradicate, on a unsuccessful and brutal program, instead of introducing constructive prevention methods, like used in many South American countries.
It is true that such protection is costly. Apparently it is less costly for the industry to have hundreds of millions of dollars of public money spent on the useless eradication program and their own for election propaganda.
David Nelson will have to represent the real interest of the industry and to protect the homeowners. Then David can win against Goliath, against a very small and very rich group using false arguments and untrue facts.
Peter Harsany, D.Sc. (doctor in agricultural economics)
Nelson for agriculture
Sentinel position: David Nelson would better represent Florida in the agriculture post.
10/31/02
Ag candidate criticizes land deal
The wife of New York Gov. George Pataki is an investor in the 1,410-acre deal.-
A $15 million state land purchase meant to help the Loxahatchee River is a "swindle" that would enrich the wife of New York Gov. George
Pataki, Florida agriculture commissioner candidate David Nelson charged Wednesday.
"This is just another example of special-interest politics," said Nelson, who issued a news release reciting information from a recent article in The Village Voice.
10/31
Bronson Spends; Nelson Contends
TALLAHASSEE - Charles Bronson is finding out that money can't buy you love - or an election. Bronson, appointed last year as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is beloved by Florida farmers and ranchers. But he remains virtually unknown to most state ...10/31
Bronson has tough challenge in Nelson
The race for Florida commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services has quietly become one of the most curious, hotly-contested statewide elections this fall.
10/31
Republican candidate lands Democratic backing
TALLAHASSEE — Several top Democrats, including a former governor, two former House speakers and several former state lawmakers endorsed Republican Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson on Tuesday.
Former Democratic Speakers James Harold Thompson and T.K. Wetherell, Gov. Wayne Mixson, state Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee and former state Sen. Rick Dantzler, who briefly considered challenging Bronson, said Bronson was qualified for the job and Democrat David Nelson is not.
...Bronson, however, conceded he's in a tight race with the 39-year-old Nelson, who has spent less than $10,000 on his campaign compared the some $1.8 the Republican will spend by election day.
Unknown teacher scores victory in Dems primary
TALLAHASSEE — David Nelson took a day off from his duties at a Miami middle school Wednesday and started to think about his newest challenge — Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. Nelson, a 39-year-old school librarian and one-time science teacher, shocked the political establishment Tuesday with an impressive victory in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination and the right to challenge incumbent Bronson.
9/12/02
Novice leads key race for Cabinet
Miami-Dade educator David Nelson -- a library director at South Miami Middle School and an unknown in state politics -- held an early lead late Tuesday in the three-way Democratic primary for agriculture commissioner, a Cabinet post that oversees Florida's second-largest industry.
9/11/02
Governor's race
the main event--
MIAMI — The race to see who will oppose Gov. Jeb Bush in November will be the main attraction Tuesday as Democrats are expected to turn out in larger numbers for the primary election. Democrats and Republicans will choose a candidate for attorney general, Democrats will select an opponent to face Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and in some areas, voters will choose lawmakers to represent them at the Capitol because primary winners will not have a November opponent.
9/10/02
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