Politics

Dave Aronberg, Dan Gelber Talk About Everybody's Business

Candidates weigh in on how their role as AG could affect business in Florida

By: Lane Wright | Posted: July 22, 2010 3:22 PM

Around the State

In a primary where the two South Florida candidates can appear very similar to voters, some analysts think the business community could ultimately decide which Democrat will go on to face the Republican challenger in the attorney general race.

Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, bills himself as the "pro-business Democrat," and has the backing of U.S. Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, another Democrat who's seen as business-friendly.

But in the same breath, Aronberg says he also supports labor, despite the fact that business leaders and the unions that represent workers are often at odds.

"I think as a Democrat you can be both pro-worker and pro-business. You can be pro-labor and pro-business," said Aronberg.

Dem AG Candidates, Sens Aronberg and Gelber discuss how their past records may influence future decisions affecting FL business

"The business community thinks they have an open door with me and they do," he continued, "but my voting record is strong with workers' rights."

Some perceive Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach as being a threat to business because of his voting record in the Senate and his association with trial lawyers.

"For me, if you are a responsible member of the business community, you have nothing to fear from an attorney general. If, on the other hand, you are coming into the marketplace to simply prey on consumers, then you do have something to fear."

Gelber says legitimate and responsible members of the business community would want an AG who keeps a level playing field.

He's also hoping to relate to them as a fellow business-type lawyer who has managed a large number of employees and responsibilities.

"If you're a business in this state, you're going to want somebody who has run an office. And I was the top deputy in an office of over 200 prosecutors, so I have managed hundreds of lawyers," Gelber said.

After the 2010 legislative session, Associated Industries of Florida released a 33-page report on voting records aligned with business.

The two candidates ranked fairly close together, with Aronberg scoring 75 percent compared to Gelber's 71 percent.

But comparing their historical records of voting, the difference was much more noticeable: 79 percent to 61 percent in favor of Sen. Aronberg.

"I'm pleased that I've had a decent rating with the business community, even though I'm sure they think it could be better."

The winner of the Aug. 24 Democratic primary will go on to face whichever Republican candidate can pull ahead and secure the nomination for the party -- Pam Bondi, Holly Benson, or Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp.

Lane Wright can be reached at lane@sunshinestatenews or by phone at 561-247-1063.

Tags: Attorney General, Dan Gelber, Dave Aronberg, Eleciton 2010, News, Politics

Comments (2)

Damian

4:52PM DEC 8TH 2010

Hey Val, NOONE cares what your old, gun-toting, shoot first-ask questions later ass thinks. You have nothing to offer accept your Opinion. You believe that because you scream the loudest and type the most comments, people will “side” with you. You want to “keep the tide going in the right direction". Fine, fine. I don’t know about you, but i’ld rather have a sex offender who had sex with an underage GF living next door, than a deranged mad woman, who thinks it’s ok to pull her gun on an Unarmed sex offender, simply because he disagrees with her HARASSMENT. Geez, Val, looks like we ALL have skeletons in our closets don’t we? Look up Valerie Parkhurst (valigator), and HER police record. Good luck with your crusade, Val. Give it a rest already!

Valigator

6:01AM JUL 23RD 2010

Aronberg has some mission page to try and connect with voters that just doesnt quite jive with his actions on the Floor. He was the only Senator that tried to shove repealed sex offender residency restrictions down the throats of Florida's families. Think about it? You want this guy as Florida's AG? I dont think so! Aronberg seems to have turned out to be the worst of A political full time candidate, constantly on the rung trying to grab more and more power and taking more and more from Florida's families...He brags about who is endorsing him in his political aspirations and trust me, they are NO ENDORSEMENT..Elenore Sobel is in the same mindset and "no action" club as Aronberg, her claim to fame? Tanning beds..yep I lose sleep over that one everynite Elenore...Its bad enough I have candidates like Aronberg and Sobel sucking the lifeblood out of Florida on a daily basis but when some jerk like Aronberg wants to repeal restrictions for those who have no qualms about chewing our children up and spitting them out..its time to vote him and his endorsers out the door..