Miami Herald

Published Saturday, August 25, 2001

Reno looking for campaign workers while she weighs a bid for governor

BY LESLEY CLARK AND TYLER BRIDGES lclark@herald.com

Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno hasn't yet committed to a gubernatorial bid, but she's prowling for potential campaign staffers.

Friends and advisors said Reno, who plans to decide in September whether she'll challenge Gov. Jeb Bush for reelection, spent part of the past week interviewing potential campaign managers and consultants.

``What she's doing now is nothing less than due diligence,'' said Gary Barron, a friend of Reno's. ``She's taken some time to evaluate a campaign, and one of those things she's factoring in her decision-making is what kind of a campaign operation she could put together. She wants to see if she gives the green light, will there be quality people.''

Hugh Westbrook, another informal Reno advisor, said she has sought campaign advice from Frank Greer, a Washington-based media consultant, who served as a media guru for the campaigns of former governors Lawton Chiles and Buddy MacKay.

``She is thinking of the people who could be on a team,'' said Westbrook, who runs a Miami-based hospice company.

The talks that Reno is having with various people don't mean a decision is imminent, Barron said.

``She's said she'll decide sometime in September,'' he said. ``I think she's on track for doing that.''

Other Democrats who have declared their candidacy are former U.S. Rep. Pete Peterson and state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami and Tampa lawyer Bill McBride.

U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa and state House Minority Leader Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach have opened campaign accounts and have said they will decide soon whether to get into the race.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Answers

Somehow, 'Governor Fankel' doesn't sound right, ya know?

'Course I don't like 'Governor Reno' either...

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Hey, in the last mayoral election here, a former mayor ran again and his campaign signs said, "Harry for Mayor." Now that's really undignified. (Could have had something to do with the fact that his last name is Rodenhizer.)

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Rodenhizer?

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Rodenhizer? Sounds like an attack dog. Sure it wasn't Rodemclinton? Reno will need that, and a whole lot more, to beat the current "establishment" in Floriduh.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001

Harry and is wife have a place called The Pizza Palace, which is locked in a time warp. The joint hasn't been updated, except for a few neon beer signs, since it was opened in the late 60s, early 70s. A somewhat unsteady Harry holds court with other bubbas, in a gimme cap and with a beer in his hand. At least they're not prune extract salesmen.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2001