Scott Carruthers Executive Director		Looking Ahead to the 2008 Election Season March 31, 2008
Here at the Florida Justice Association we rarely have the privilege to focus on one thing at a time, but instead must always look ahead to the next hill to climb. So now, with the 2008 Legislative Session well under way, it is time to focus our attention on the upcoming 2008 electoral season. 2008 holds great promise for the country in general, with Florida set to benefit from the wave of excitement and transformation that is sweeping across America. This has created many important opportunities that FJA is more than ready to seize. And that is important because, no matter how important the presidential contest is and how focused we all are on national matters, our fate as a profession and as an organization will be made by the men and women elected to fill seats in the Florida Legislature. The victories of the 2006 and 2007 elections laid the groundwork for success, but that does not mean that there isn’t still much work yet to be done. Although not as numerous as in years past, 2008 still offers challenges and priorities to our organization. Florida Justice PAC will be engaging in several key contests that will be pivotal in shaping Florida’s legislative environment for the next two to four years prior to reapportionment. As in the past, most of our opportunities are in open seat races. In the Senate, the exit of Democratic Senators Gwen Margolis (Bay Harbor Islands) and Mandy Dawson (Ft. Lauderdale) opens up the possibility of two strong Democrats ascending to the ranks of the Senate Democrats – Former Democratic House Leaders Chris Smith (Ft. Lauderdale) and Dan Gelber (Miami Beach). In these two candidates we have attorneys who truly understand our issues and the important role our profession plays in helping to ensure that every Floridian has access to justice. We will also see a race featuring three strong Democratic contenders for Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller’s (Hollandale Beach) seat as he departs due to term limits. In another race of note, the exit of Republican Senator Lisa Carlton in Sarasota offers an important opportunity to once again send a strong signal to those who would seek to bolt the courthouse doors against the consumers and citizens of Florida. In the House, the 2006 and 2007 elections produced a strong class of pro-consumer Republicans, as well as one of the finest Democratic freshman classes in history. This, along with our own persistent commitment to building bridges with leadership, has led to a paradigm shift in the House. No longer is the House leading the charge on tort restrictions and immunities. This makes the burden lighter on our friends and allies in the Senate. Our job in the 2008 election will be to foster and maintain this positive new legislative environment in the House. We will do that by laying the groundwork to ensure the return of members elected in 2006 and 2007, while continuing to elect strong, pro-justice candidates. These are candidates who are more than simply good Democrats or Republicans – they are also attorneys and civil justice practitioners who understand in their gut how important a strong and vital civil justice system is because they live it every day. As always, our success in the 2008 election will depend upon the commitment and participation of our members at all levels, from fundraising to grassroots work at the local level. No matter who you are or what your strengths, you have something important to contribute to the fight. So call Florida Justice PAC Chief Operating Officer Albert Balido or Assistant Chief Operating Officer Ami Wheeler at (850) 224-9403 to find out how you can get involved today. Then, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, I look forward to celebrating victory with all of you come November.