Courtesy of the Gainesville Sun
by Amy Shannon
Special to the Sun

Packed in like patriotic sardines, several hundred of the county’s most-active Democrats filled the Thelma A. Boltin activity center for the first-ever outstanding luncheon to honor community party leaders.

Sponsored by the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, the gathering’s large crowd on Saturday wasn’t too much of a surprise, said Chairman Chuck Floyd, as he squeezed through seas of supporters, both young and old.

“It’s an election year,” Floyd said. “People are very energized.”

Floyd described the gathering as a great opportunity for local Democrats to rally together and get excited about casting their votes in the March 9 primary election.

And with the big day fast approaching, conversation often drifted to who’s going to come out on top.

“I would be very surprised if John Kerry didn’t win,” said Pat Bern, luncheon chairwoman. “And as far as the mayoral election, I think we’re blessed with a lot of good candidates.”

The list of candidates for the mayor’s race include Michael Belle, 23, a full-time volunteer for Dennis Kucinich’s presidential campaign; C.B. Daniel, 64, chairman of the southern division of CNB National Bank; Pegeen Hanrahan, 37, an engineer and hazardous materials manager, and current Mayor Tom Bussing, 56.

Ryan Koslosky, a first-year University of Florida law student and member of the Law School Democrats, said if Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, continues to do as well as he has in the national polls, “it might not be much of a contest.”

“Especially, if people keep dropping out,” Koslosky added.

Koslosky, who is on an exclusive committee that will ultimately write the Democratic platform for the national party, said because of Florida’s large number of voters, the state plays a very important role during elections.

“However, a lot of southern states have moved their date forward and we haven’t,” Koslosky said. “Our choice might be more limited than Iowa’s and Wisconsin’s.”

And because Florida voters won’t be heading to the ballot booths until after Super Tuesday, the first Tuesday of March when some primaries are often decided, some are speculating a candidate will already be selected.

“It might just be decided by then,” Bern said.

FYI: Award winners

  • Al Daniels, special award for distinguished service to the community and to the Alachua County Democrats
  • Lizzie Jenkins, special award for courageous activity in the struggle for equality
  • Raquel Garcia, Alachua County Young Democrats first annual Jeffrey Mattison Wershow award
  • Rodney Long, “Buck Stops Here” award
  • Bonnie Burgess, Eleanor Roosevelt award
  • Pat Bern, Democrat of the Year award
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