Palm Beach Post endorses Jim Davis for Governor

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2006/10/15/a2e_gov_endorse_1015.html

Education, insurance make Davis the choice

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Democratic candidate Jim Davis differ most on the two issues that matter most to Floridians: education and property insurance. Mr. Crist would continue the wrongheaded, failed policies of his predecessor. Rep. Davis would transform them. iFor the future of Florida's public schools and property owners, The Post recommends voters elect Jim Davis for governor.

With the state ranking among the lowest in the nation in high school graduation rates and college admission aptitude scores, Florida cannot afford to continue a false accountability based on misused standardized testing. Mr. Crist, a former education commissioner who went on the campaign trail praising but knowing little about the high-stakes FCAT, agrees with Gov. Bush's punitive policy of grading schools based on FCAT scores. He would expand use of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to shame schools, then shift resources based on performance.

A state representative for eight years prior to going to Congress, Rep. Davis correctly emphasizes the need for quicker test results, qualified graders, smaller class sizes and higher teacher salaries. He wants public schools to be coveted for their quality, not shunned as catch-alls. Said the fourth-generation Floridian: "Charlie says stay the course. I say we need to change."

Mr. Crist's plan on insurance is similarly stagnant: Pay, hope and wait.

Rep. Davis recognizes the state's role in stabilizing premiums and ensuring that homeowners get deserved, timely help with repairs for hurricane damage. Under his proposal, private insurers would administer property insurance policies, and a state-run agency would collect premiums and pay claims for most damage. Citizens Property Insurance Co. would be phased out, ending the failure of concentrating high-risk policies in one pool.

[seafan]

1. The Big Dawg is coming to campaign for Davis on Friday, Oct 20.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2006/10/visits_from_wan.html

Don't know where as yet.