3/16/99

GOP COOL TO ANTI-AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BID

By TYLER BRIDGES
Herald Staff Writer 


The Florida Republican Party is orchestrating a campaign to defeat a
proposed anti-affirmative action ballot measure, the initiative's leader
charged Monday.

``The word has gone out from the leadership of the Republican Party to
oppose this,'' said Ward Connerly, the black California businessman trying
to get Florida voters to ban affirmative action in the public sector and
universities. ``They're trying to send the message that Connerly is not
welcome here.''

Speaking at a Miami Lakes news conference to announce he will try to get
his measure on the November 2000 ballot, Connerly did not provide specific
evidence to back his charge. But he said Republicans are playing ``racial
politics'' in an effort to attract black voters, who traditionally vote
overwhelmingly Democratic.

The measure would amend the state Constitution to ban preference programs
based on race, gender and ethnic backgrounds in local and state government
hiring and contracting, as well as university admissions.

Connerly has led similar campaigns in California and Washington. Both
succeeded.

Connerly said last November that he thought Republican Gov. Jeb Bush would
support his initiative. But Bush has said he wants no part of it.

Cory Tilley, Bush's spokesman, said he knew of no orchestrated effort by
Republicans to oppose Connerly.

But Republican legislative leaders -- House Speaker John Thrasher of Orange
Park and Senate President Toni Jennings of Orlando -- also have declined to
support the Californian.

Locally, Republicans opposing Connerly include Miami Mayor Joe Carollo and
state Rep. Luis Rojas of Hialeah.

Connerly said Republicans are keeping their distance because they are
trying to woo black voters upset with the Democratic Party because white
Democrats ousted state Rep. Willie Logan, a black Democrat from Opa-locka,
from his leadership post last year.

Logan and two other black state lawmakers endorsed Bush in the 1998
governor's race, and several other Democratic lawmakers -- including state
Rep. Beryl Roberts of Miami -- declined to endorse Bush's Democratic
opponent, then-Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay.

Yet Bush still got only about 10 percent of the black vote.

With Democratic and Republican politicians steering clear of Connerly or
outright opposing him, his strongest organized support is coming from the
Florida Associated General Contractors Council, which represents builders.
Connerly spoke to the group Monday night in Miami Lakes.

Connerly will have to collect at least 435,073 verified signatures to get
his measure on the ballot. It would also have to be cleared by the Florida
Supreme Court and then be approved by voters.

Supporters of the preferences say they help deserving minority applicants
who might otherwise not be considered for a job, contract or college
admission. They emphasize that affirmative action does not help unqualified
applicants.

Opponents say the programs penalize nonminority applicants.


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