NewsPress: Rick Diamond: Aronberg's record makes him best bet for attorney general

Rick Diamond: Aronberg's record makes him best bet for attorney general

Learn about your local candidates

Rick Diamond • Special to news-press.com •
August 12, 2010

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, the most popular
Democratic vote getter among Lee County
Republicans and independents in recent history,
may be let down by his own party on Aug. 24 in the
Democratic primary to select its candidate for
attorney general.

That is because Lee County Democrats rarely turn
out for primaries. In the 2006 primary, less than
one out of six registered Democrats bothered to
vote. Aronberg is facing state Sen. Dan Gelber of
Miami and needs more help from Lee County
Democrats to offset Gelber's edge in Dade County.

Since 2006 the number of registered Democrats in
Lee County is up 13 percent to 105,320 and, with a
stronger party effort to more than double their 2006
turnout, it might just make the difference in the
statewide primary.

While term limits prevent Aronberg from seeking re-
election as state senator, during his eight-year
tenure he compiled a record that brought him
widespread support both in his district and in the
state Legislature. As a tireless advocate of more
consumer protection, for tightening rules to combat
Medicare and mortgage fraud, for closing loopholes
in sex offender laws, and for proposing an ethics
bill, holding public officials to a higher standard,
that was approved by the Legislature, Aronberg has
gained a host of admirers.

That showed in 2008 when Aronberg in the Lee
County portion of his 27th Senate District, garnered
47 percent of the vote despite a 3-2 Republican
registration edge. Aronberg also has statewide s
upport in his fight to become the next attorney
general; all 18 of the elected Democratic sheriffs
who endorsed a candidate support his candidacy,
with many citing his record on public safety.

Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said it best:
"Dave Aronberg has the energy, the enthusiasm and
he experience to be a great attorney general. A
former assistant attorney general himself, Dave will
be ready to serve the people ... on Day 1. That's why
I'm endorsing him."

As Aronberg points out, "This is not a mere
stepping stone or fall-back position for me. This is
my passion." Hopefully Democrats on August 24 will
select Aronberg to face Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp in the
Nov. 2 election.


Low turnout

Democrats outnumber Republicans by over 630,000
registered voters in Florida yet, partially due
traditionally low Democratic voter turnouts,
Republicans overwhelming control both branches of
the Legislature, 26-14 in the Senate and 77-42 in
the House. The main reason, however, was the 2000
census, which required redistricting. With the
Republicans in charge of both the Legislature and
the governorship, they turned gerrymandering into
an art form, creating many safe Senate and House
districts.

One unbelievable case occurred in the 27th Senate
District; new district lines cut out more of heavily
Democratic Palm Beach County and, in a narrow
strip, the lines went across the state to south Lee
County, clear to the Collier County line. Lee County
now contains 45 percent of the district's voters,
making it a swing district, but it was Aronberg's
popularity that kept it in the Democratic fold the
past eight years.