It is often said you always remember your first of everything. It certainly is true of my first legislative campaign in 1972. As I pointed out in my book, The Golden Years…The Florida Legislature, ’70s and ’80s, I had hoped for an “open seat” for my maiden campaign, but ended up selecting a well known name in the South Miami-Dade District, 119, “Gautier.” Former Senator Bunn Gautier had been a legendary Miami-Dade lawmaker in the 50′s and 60′s, and his relative, Jeff D. Gautier had served in the Florida House of Representatives since 1966. The rationale behind my decision to run against Representative Gautier was that I might be lined up against him one on one, and although the Gautier name was well known, Jeff did not enjoy the same reputation as Senator Gautier. Just prior to the end of qualification, another well known Miami, civic activist Clark Merrill jumped in the race, pushing me down to third in the polls. I ended up in a runoff with Gautier, had the endorsement of Merrill, but miscalculated the low run-off turnout and the in-climate weather, losing by 800 someodd votes. But, it was both a great experience and a solid lesson for my political future.
