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Ex-U.S. Rep. McCollum to run for attorney general

The 20-year congressman joins a field with three Republicans and one Democrat.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published October 11, 2005

Bill McCollum, the former Republican congressman and two-time candidate for the U.S. Senate, is jumping into the race for attorney general.

In a statewide race where one Republican has already reeled in more than $1-million nearly a year before Election Day, McCollum stands to shake things up and emerge as the immediate frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

He is the only candidate known across the state, and the former Bill Clinton impeachment case manager has built up plenty of goodwill among conservative activists who tend to dominate Republican primaries.

"He's given this careful consideration and at the end of several months he and (his wife) Ingrid decided together that he was going to run," said Shannon Gravitte, a longtime McCollum aide. "The time is right, he wants to serve the people of Florida and he certainly has credentials that are unmatched."

A 20-year congressman from the Orlando area, McCollum, 61, focused heavily on terrorism and law enforcement issues and served as chairman of the House subcommittee on crime. McCollum left congress after running for the U.S. Senate in 2000 and losing to Democrat Bill Nelson.

He ran again for the U.S. Senate last year, but lost in a particularly nasty Republican primary to Mel Martinez, who went on to beat Democrat Betty Castor in the general election.

"I don't know why he's not running for the U.S. Senate. That's what he seems to have wanted," said state Rep. Everett Rice of Treasure Island, the former Pinellas County sheriff who also is running for attorney general. Rice noted that he is the only candidate who has run a large public agency and has experience in public safety administration.

Other Republicans running include state Sen. Burt Saunders of Naples and state Rep. Joe Negron of Stuart, the House budget chief who already has raised more than $1-million. State Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell of Broward County is the lone Democrat in the race.

"The jury is still out on how strong a candidate he will be. He still has to get started, and nine months is a lifetime in politics," Negron said of McCollum. "I respect his 20 years in Congress, but this campaign is about the state of Florida and the office of attorney general. ... I've demonstrated I have widespread support from Miami to Pensacola."

McCollum could not be reached for comment Monday. He will make a formal campaign announcement later, but Gravitte said he intended to be in Fort Lauderdale today to meet with members of the Fraternal Order of Police. She said he would "very soon" file campaign papers to allow fundraising.

McCollum practices law in Orlando with the firm Baker & Hostetler, and he is a registered lobbyist in Washington for clients including Verizon and companies in the financial and managed care industries.

--Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 11, 2005, 01:57:17]