True winner on Tuesday: Daryl Jones-- The real grabber in this year's Florida Fiasco is Daryl Jones. He actually hit the jackpot. No, he's not the Democrats' nominee for governor. He would have needed divine intervention for that one. 9/12/02

Jones, defeated in gubernatorial primary, criticizes election
MIAMI — While the winner of the Democratic gubernatorial nomination remains unknown, third- place finisher Daryl Jones acknowledged his defeat Wednesday while criticizing the election process. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, the Miami state senator garnered 12 percent of the vote compared to 45 percent for Tampa lawyer Bill McBride and 43 percent for former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. 9/12

Right on issues, right on dream
By Stebbins Jefferson, Palm Beach Post Columnist
Gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones is an admirable product of democracy. 9/8/02

In quest for another 'first,' Jones' campaign moves on
Daryl Jones says he's the most qualified Democrat running for governor of Florida, and he might be right. As a legislator from Miami-Dade County for a dozen years, the state senator is the only candidate with any lengthy experience in state politics. While Democratic rivals Janet Reno and Bill McBride tend to speak broadly about education and healthcare, Jones has detailed plans. 8/4/02

Jones deserves spot in McBride-Reno debate - Daryl Jones is locked out of the only debate of the Democratic candidates for governor that will be televised statewide. - He should be let in. 8/3/02

Gubernatorial candidate proposes plan for child-welfare agency-- ... State Sen. Daryl Jones, a Miami-area lawyer and investment banker, on Thursday called for reform of the system and suggested that Florida could pay for much-needed changes without raising taxes through a combination of policy adjustments, tax incentives and changes in the way the state pays for prescription drugs. 8/3/02

Gubernatorial candidate meets Wingate activists - Wingate, a northwest Fort Lauderdale landfill and incinerator that closed 24 years ago, drew a gubernatorial candidate's attention on Thursday.-- 
State Sen. Daryl Jones, a longshot candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, met with Wingate community activist Leola McCoy and others who live nearby, using the setting to address state environmental concerns, one of his five priorities for the state. 8/2/02

Let Sen. Jones debate
The political manuvering surrounding televised debates is often more interesting than the actual event. 8/1/02

Live Webcast scheduled (post your questions)
Join us Friday at 3 p.m. for a live audio Webcast with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones.(Florida Times-Union) 7/25/02

Bush, Jones file in second wave of qualifiers
State Sen. Daryl Jones filed his qualifying papers to run for governor Tuesday and adamantly ruled out taking the second spot on any other Democrat's ticket.7/24/02

Sen. Jones' campaign seeking resonance in governor's race
State Sen. Daryl Jones became on Tuesday the first African American in recent Florida history to appear on the ballot for governor. But the one-time nominee for U.S. Air Force secretary is struggling for political legitimacy and, with poll numbers in the single digits, risks becoming a sideshow in the race for the governor's mansion. 7/24/02

Gubernatorial candidate decries exclusion from Democrats' TV debate - Tampa · State Sen. Daryl Jones said his exclusion from an Aug. 27 gubernatorial debate between former Attorney General Janet Reno and lawyer Bill McBride "defies logic."  7/19/02

Let Jones into debate
Daryl Jones doesn't have the name recognition of Janet Reno or even Bill McBride, and his poll numbers are miniscule by comparison. Nevertheless, the state senator from Miami should be included in the Forum Club's Democratic debate in Palm Beach next month. 7/18/02

Jones aims to be in debate next month
State Sen. Daryl Jones said Tuesday he will go to the Janet Reno-Bill McBride debate next month and urge that his campaign for governor be included in the forum. 7/16/02

Jones pushes for campaign donors
State Sen. Daryl Jones said he plans to raise $2.5 million for his campaign for governor as he opened his Seminole County headquarters Sunday.6/24/02

Election 2002: Daryl Jones proposes corporate tax credit for gifts to nonprofits -- TALLAHASSEE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones wants to give tax credits to companies that make donations to nonprofit organizations that get state funding.6/14/02

New tax credit proposed by candidate Democratic gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones wants to give tax credits to companies that make donations to nonprofit organizations that get state funding. The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/3470733.htm

Gubernatorial candidate a familiar face
Daryl Jones is no stranger to Key West, after representing the Florida Keys in the state Senate for 12 years. But this week he brought his gubernatorial campaign to town.

The South Florida Democrat said his experience in the state Legislature makes him a better competitor against incumbent Gov. Jeb Bush than Democratic front-runners Janet Reno and Bill McBride. He said he would win the race by "volume," because a $10 campaign contribution usually equates to two votes, while Bush will be drawing much of his campaign funds from lobbyists and out-of-state interest groups.

"I do think we can do a better job," he said Monday at a meeting of local Democrats.

Jones outlined a five-step approach:

* Protecting and enhancing the environment.

Efforts toward restoration of the Everglades and money for water quality projects that improve the health of the coral reef have been somewhat successful, Jones said. But they need to be continued.

* Raising the state education system from the bottom rungs, where it is now.

Jones said vocational and technical training needs to be returned to public high schools, the FCAT tests need to be computerized to save time and money and bachelor's degrees need to be offered through the community college system.

"The FCAT right now is the scourge of the public schools," said Jones, lambasting Bush's focus on the test. The teaching focus needs to shift to "make every child important to every teacher in a real substantive way."

* Providing health care to all Floridians.

Jones said the state could save $800 million dollars by switching most Medicaid prescriptions to generic, rather than brand name, drugs. That money could be used to provide health care for all needy children, better assisted care in nursing homes and an accountable foster care system and still have $300 million left over, he said.

* Economic development through diversifying Florida's economic base.

Jones said the state fails to be competitive, but should be because of its ports, airports and worker base. "We really ought to be the Hong Kong of the Eastern seaboard."

He proposed building better highway connections to the airports and railway spurs to the ports.

* Improving public safety by rehabilitating the criminal justice system.

Rehabilitation does work, Jones said.

Helping those who serve time in prison become skilled and educated improves the chances they will not be arrested again, as does drug rehabilitation, he said. Otherwise the odds are high that a person will return to jail.

"This governor's done away with all these programs, for the most part," Jones said. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's in the business of manufacturing crime."
BY EMILY ROACH

eroach@keysnews.com  http://keysnews.com/276011524130661.bsp.htm

Candidate for governor speaks here

By MICHAEL REED
Staff Writer

State Sen. Daryl Jones, D-Miami, is running for governor, and he's focusing on a grassroots campaign to get his message out.

Jones gave a speech at the Willie Galimore Center Saturday to about 30 people. He explained his issues and laid out his plan to beat Gov. Jeb Bush and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

The 46-year-old Democratic Leader Pro Tempore entered the center shaking everyone's hand and personally introducing himself. He left to applause.

"He's a very dynamic and exciting speaker," said Lonny Awerdick, chairman of the Democratic Party of St. Johns County. "He's got a lot of important things to say that people need to hear."

Jones is campaigning on five issues. He wants quality health care for all Floridians and a focus on economic development, the environment, education and crime.

"Teachers determine the future," Jones said. "Police officers and rescue workers determine the present."

Florida ranks 49 out of 50 in per capita investment in education, he said. In higher education investment, the state is 50th, he added.

Teachers should be paid more and classes should be smaller, he said. Also, the FCAT should be computerized to evaluate each student instead of each school.

"I want to know whether or not our children are competitive in a global economy, because they're going to have to compete," he said.

Jones advocates enacting a Patient's Bill of Rights and he wants quality care in nursing homes. He also wants to make Florida the distribution center for international trade in the northern hemisphere and attract more high-tech workers.

For public safety, Jones thinks the Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units should train local law enforcement to battle bio-terrorism.

And he wants to help people who serve time in prison become productive citizens when they are released.

For the environment, he wants to restore the Everglades, protect the Florida Keys and maintain a sustainable water supply.

The road to the governor's office may be uphill for Jones because Reno and Bush have been so visible. But he said he's faced long odds in all of his past elections.

Jones was elected to the Senate in 1992. In 1990 he successfully ran for the state House of Representatives. He said he entered the race three months before the election and defeated a very conservative Republican.

Victory will come again with a good plan and a grassroots effort, he said. He gives booklets to people and asks them to raise a little money and bring people to the polls. Jones said he has to increase his name recognition and public knowledge of his platform.

And with the millions that will be raised by the candidates, the race will be hard, he said.

"It's going to be a brutal campaign," Jones said.

-------

Gubernatorial hopeful brings ideas to Bradenton BRADENTON - Hoping to pave his road to the governor's mansion with more than hugs and handshakes, State Sen. Daryl Jones talked about issues during a campaign stop in downtown Bradenton on Saturday. The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/3246462.htm

Jeb is running this state into the ground

By Samantha Singer

Jeb is running this state into the ground By Samantha Singer

Senator Daryl Jones was in South Florida this week speaking about his "5 for Florida's Future" platform - a plan he has ready to set in place with existing programs and revenue to strengthen Florida's economic development, make Florida a safer place to live, provide a world class education system, quality healthcare available for all Floridians and protect our environment. "Jeb Bush has been running this state for almost 4 years now, running it into the ground and that makes my blood boil!" Senator Jones is running for Governor and looking for your vote on September 10, 2002 to get the Democratic nomination. Daryl Jones, the twice elected Senator from the 40th district of Florida which includes south Dade and Monroe counties. He is the man who has fought so hard to keep our children's schools supplied with teachers who care about our children's futures. He's the man who stood up and said "no thank you" when Jeb assigned him to head "One Florida" which removed affirmative action from our state and its universities. He's the man who waded in the muck left by the 2000 Election and brought us the Voter's Rights Act of 2001. His work has brought Florida from being the laughing stock of the nation to being on the cutting edge of voter's rights with touch screen polling. He has shined the light of truth into the dark corners of racial profiling in out-dated 'felons' lists, disenfranchising our brothers and sisters throughout the state and denying their American right to vote. Senator Daryl Jones is a man we have been able to trust to do the right thing in the past, who has never let us down, and who we can trust to be a great Governor for all Florida's people.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1955 the son of public school teachers; he learned early the value of a strong education. Valedictorian of the Class of 1973, his promise was recognized as he was elected to the position of President of the Mississippi State Association of Student Councils, less then 20 years after racial de-segregation of that state's schools. Daryl Jones made history by becoming the first African- American from Mississippi to attend a United States military academy when he was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy. Senator Jones studied law at the University of Miami School of Law where he was voted President of the Student Bar Association and later elected to the post of President of the National Student Bar Association.

He was tapped as a member of Iron Arrow; the highest honor attained at the University of Miami, in 1987 and in the same year received his J.D. with honors.Jones won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1990 and began the race for his seat in the Florida Senate in the summer of '92. That race was cut short when on August 22 1992; Hurricane Andrew hit Florida, devastating his home district including sections of Kendall, Homestead, Miami and the Keys. Daryl shut down his campaign and went to work immediately securing shelter, drinking water, food and other essential items for the families who had lost everything. But the people of the culturally rich ethnically mixed and economically diverse district 40 knew who they wanted to represent them. They didn't need any additional campaigning to educate them who was the best person for the job. In an election no one will soon forget, neighbors drove neighbors from hurricane barraged homes to the polls, giving the election and the seat to Senator Daryl Jones. Senator Jones led the fight for victims of Hurricane Andrew establishing the innovative Hurricane Andrew Trust Fund. That same year the Miami Herald named him Outstanding Freshman Senator.

Senator Jones has held that seat until now, his term ending only due to term limits. Jones is the only candidate with experience in the Senate. In fact he is the only candidate in the top three who has held an elected position! He is the only candidate with experience in Tallahassee and the only candidate with knowledge of the mechanics of a working state. Only Daryl Jones has the know how from 12 years working with the men and women from both parties to find the middle ground between Democrat and Republican which has earned him the nickname around the capital of the "Great Negotiator". The proof of that can be viewed in his successful sponsorship of the Rosewood Bill which provided reparations for the massacre of innocent black men, women and children in the town of Rosewood Florida, for failure by the state to protect all its citizens. This groundbreaking legislation protects the civil rights of all Florida's citizens.

I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with this soft-spoken gentleman and we shared stories of our families. He's proud of his three children who all attend public school and that his oldest is attending the Air Force Academy. "He wants to fly jets, like his daddy" he beams. Yes he admits he is proud of his accomplishments, being nominated for Secretary of the Air Force in '98 by President Clinton, being recognized for Leadership by the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators, but it is the future he would prefer to discuss. "Florida is just a few decisions away from being a great state. With your help and your vote on September 10th and your vote for Governor in November, we can make Florida the great state it can be for all her citizens."

For more information about the Senator Daryl Jones for Governor Campaign you can contact his campaign office toll-free at 1-866-28- JONES or visit the website at www.senatorjonesforgovernor.com 

© 2002 South Dade Monitor, Inc.

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