Yesterday I told you about the top 10 most influential Republicans in Florida, as compiled by Politicsmagazine.com.
Well, today we take a look at the Democrats.
With the help of legendary St. Petersburg Times reporter Lucy Morgan, the magazine knocks out a list of the 10 most influential as part of a new series called “The Influencers.”
And what’s a list if you can’t quibble with it.
My biggest quibble with her list of Republicans yesterday was that Gov. Charlie Crist was not in the top 10. Besides being the top elected official in the state, many credit Crist with the final weekend push that allowed John McCain to carry Florida over Mitt Romney in the GOP primary in 2008. Love him or hate him, he clearly influenced the entire national campaign.
On today’s list, my biggest quibble is with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, not being in the top 10. If you saw my story about the state’s lack of clout in Washington a few weeks ago, you know she’s the big exception there these days. She is almost universally considered one of the top 30 most influential people in Congress by people in Washington.
That said, here’s the Top 10 Democrats according to Morgan (in alphabetical order), and short sentences on why she listed them:
Reubin Askew: Former governor famous for ethics reforms passed in the 1970s.
Freddy Balsera: Media relations pro, adviser to President Obama and DNC on Hispanic affairs.
Ron Book: A former Democrat who has been unaffiliated for 10 years, veteran Miami lobbyist with a huge stable of clients, major fundraiser, former aide to Gov. Graham.
Dan Gelber: Veteran legislator, candidate for attorney general, won extension of early voting in 2008 thereby helping Obama win Florida
Bob Graham: Former governor and U.S. senator, still Florida’s most popular Democrat
Wayne Hogan: Jacksonville trial lawyer, major fundraiser
Fred Levin: Renowned trial lawyer who engineered change in law that allowed state to recover billions from tobacco industry.
Allan J. Katz: Lobbyist, fundraiser, key Obama supporter, Tallahassee city commissioner
Steve Schale: Veteran Democratic Party operative, managed Obama’s campaign in Florida, running Dan Gelber’s campaign for attorney general.
T.K. Wetherell: Florida State University president, former House speaker with a wily talent for getting appropriations in hard times.