Childers Unlikely Poster Boy for Term Limits

Mar 4, 2000 - 11:40 AM
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press Writer

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - State Sen. W.D. Childers opened a campaign account three years ago to seek re-election in 2000 although his name cannot appear on the ballot under Florida's new term limits.

The "Eight is Enough" state constitutional amendment that voters approved by 77 percent in 1992 said nothing about write-in candidates. The Pensacola Republican even obtained a ruling from elections officials that voters didn't even have to write in his full name. Just "W.D." would do.

But last fall the 66-year-old dean of the Senate, who has 29 years in office, did an about-face and became a poster boy for the term limits movement.

"I came through a whole stage of metamorphosis when I got to finally realizing it was appropriate and proper that I step down," Childers said. "But that didn't take away my desire to serve the public."

Instead, the Panhandle politician is running for Escambia County commissioner to give himself something to do until he can run for the Senate again.

"The people spoke," Childers said. "They said: 'W.D., get out of the Senate now after 30 years and do something else. We don't care what you do, but take a break in service.' And I'm doing that."

The amendment says a lawmaker cannot be on the ballot again for the same office after serving at least eight consecutive years, but with a break in service, they can run again.

That's what Childers said he intends to do in two or four years. Although Senate terms usually are four years, those elected in 2000 will have to run again in 2002 due to reapportionment. Childers said he may even try to become Senate president again, a post he held in 1980-82.

This year, he is running for an open commissioner's seat that has attracted seven other candidates. At least one candidate, however, says he may withdraw now that Childers is running.

In the meantime, Childers has been working with Florida Citizens for Term Limits to encourage - make that challenge - citizens to run for seats being vacated due to term limits.

"They wanted new faces and new people and new blood," Childers said at a Tallahassee news conference in January. "And now it's time to put up or shut up."

Republican state Rep. Durell Peaden Jr., R-Crestview, has taken up the challenge by running for Childers' seat.

This is not the first time Childers has gone through a metamorphosis. Born in a Panhandle community then known as Crackers Neck, Childers was a Democrat until 1995, switching parties only after Republicans won a majority in the Senate.

The former teacher who rode the hula hoop craze to success as a merchant was elected in 1970 when Reubin Askew gave up his Senate seat to run for the first of his two terms as governor.

Childers developed a close friendship with Sen. Dempsey Barron, a Panama City Democrat. Barron was Senate president in 1974-76 and remained a power broker, helping others, including Childers, win the presidency.

Barron proved just how much power he could broker early in Childers presidency after they had a falling out. They once had to be restrained after exchanging words on the Senate floor.

Barron engineered a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats, dubbed "Dempseycrats," that stripped Childers of authority, although he was allowed to keep his title and the trappings of office.

They patched their differences a few years later, but Barron was turned out of office by voters who felt he was so preoccupied by the power game that he had ignored their needs, a mistake Childers has never made.

Often with justification, he takes credit at election time for state dollars that pour into his district for everything from the Pensacola Civic Center to road projects.

The Banty Rooster, as the name implies, is not a timid campaigner. In 1984, his ads depicted a challenger, former state Sen. John Broxson, as a "Frito Bandito" and top-hatted villain.

"It was not mudslinging," Broxson said. "It was slime-slinging."

"I like to raise a lot of money and have a high-profile campaign, lot of volunteers and giving dinners and spending money," Childers said.

He already has more than $100,000 in his campaign till this year although Childers doesn't hold fund raisers. He prefers to solicit contributors directly.

"I'll give them a better deal than go to receptions where they've got to sit around eating little cocktail sandwiches," Childers said. "Just give you the money. Make it simple."

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List of Lawmakers Forced to Leave Office Because of Term Limits The Associated Press

Members of the Florida House and Senate who can't run for their seat again after this session because they've served at least eight years*:

SENATE:

11 out of 40 Senators can't run for re-election. They are:

W.D. Childers, R-Pensacola

Pat Thomas, D-Quincy

George Kirkpatrick, R-Gainesville

Toni Jennings, R-Orlando (President)

John Grant, R-Tampa

Patsy Ann Kurth, D-Malabar

Jim Hargrett, D-Tampa

William "Doc" Myers, R-Hobe Sound

Jim Scott, R-Fort Lauderdale

Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami

Roberto Casas, R-Hialeah

HOUSE:

52 out of 120 Representatives can't run for re-election. They are:

George Albright, R-Ocala

Joe Arnall, R-Jacksonville Beach

Stan Bainter, R-Eustis

Dave Bitner, R-Port Charlotte

Elaine Bloom, D-Miami Beach

Irlo "Bud" Bronson, R-Kissimmee

Shirley Brown, D-Sarasota

Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami

James Bush, D-Miami

Bob Casey, R-Gainesville

Cynthia Chestnut, D-Gainesville

Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs

John Cosgrove, D-Miami

George Crady, D-Yulee

Victor Crist, R-Temple Terrace

Lori Edwards, D-Auburndale

Josephus Eggelletion, D-Lauderdale Lakes

Jim Fuller, R-Jacksonville

Howard Futch, R-Melbourne Beach

Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah

Greg Gay, R-Cape Coral

Harry Goode, R-Melbourne

Addie Greene, D-Mangonia Park

Lars Hafner, D-St. Petersburg

Ed Healey, D-West Palm Beach

Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville

Suzanne Jacobs, D-Delray Beach

Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island

Everett Kelly, R-Tavares

Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee

Willie Logan, D-Opa-locka

Sharon Merchant, R-Palm Beach Gardens

Les Miller, D-Tampa

Rick Minton, D-Fort Pierce

John Morroni, R-Clearwater

Mark Ogles, R-Bradenton

Bill Posey, R-Rockledge

Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie

John Rayson, D-Pompano Beach

Alzo Reddick, D-Orlando

Beryl Roberts, D-Miami

Luis Rojas, R-Miami

Debbie Sanderson, R-Fort Lauderdale

Charles Sembler, R-Sebastian

Kelly Smith, D-Palatka

Tracy Stafford, D-Wilton Manors

Bob Starks, R-Casselberry

Bill Sublette, R-Orlando

John Thrasher, R-Orange Park (Speaker)

Alex Villalobos, R-Miami

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Davie

Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville

*Members can seek election to the other chamber of the Legislature.

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Related Links: 

For Scores of Lawmakers, Term Limits Means Last Session

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