News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 23

Fort Myers News-Press, Sunday, February 10. 1980 17B It-, I WM Mi Mixson slowly, subtly becoming Graham's major success lobbying slick operator who could manipulate the rules to win by trickery what he could not win on the merits. "Wayne was never a political maneuverer," recalls House Energy Chairman Frank Mann, D-Fort Myers. "His ability to pass bills or Turn To MIXSON, Page 19B "You people found deductions and credits I didn't know about. I shoulda come here last year." LT.

GOV. WAYNE MIXSON folksy attitude is disarming Ck II IJll .1 a. By DAVID POWELL Associated Press Writer TALLAHASSEE For months; Lt. Gov. Wayne Mixson had planned on jetting down to Ecuador on Sunday as the titular leader of a 35-member state trade mission to Latin America.

But last week Mixson quietly cancelled his long-standing plans' to head up the six-day "Intercam-bio Comercial" as Florida's chief, trade booster and Industrial recruiter. Instead of mingling with well-to-do Latin businessmen in Quito and Guayaquil, Mixson will have the more down-to-earth duty of glad-handing some county property appraisers in hopes of winning their support for Gov. Bob Graham's latest tax reform plan. It's one of the definite though little-noticed changes that have come about in the Capitol since Graham turned to Mixson, a popular homespun former legislator from Marianna, to dismantle and rebuild a legislative lobbying effort a lobbying effort that has a reputation for being ineffectual. Mixson appears to have prompted some changes in the way Graham's office develops, packages and sells ideas.

Yet some insiders say that, despite the adjustments and the amiable Mixson's popularity, more fundamental changes must be made to dramatically Graham's performance with the Legislature. It was barely six weeks ago that Graham admitted he needed help. The freshman governor had been through a year of difficulty with lawmakers. He began badly by naming a chief lobbyist, Henry Vinson, who had alienated some lawmakers and legislative staffers. After firing Vinson, he relied largely on Ronnie Book, a brash young campaign aide who was the most visible member of a fragmented team.

"Most of the people he had in the Legislature had experience from an election where they won by running outside the existing political structure instead of inside it-," says one lobbyist. "They tried to do that with the Legislature but it didn't work." Graham's problems with the Legislature climaxed in December in a special session he had billed beforehand as the time and place where he would engineer cant reforms that would equalize property tax burdens between the 67 counties. Instead, he was shut OUt. So Graham turned to Mixson, the Ivy League-educated North Florida farmer who had helped establish the darkhorse Graham as a credible candidate in 1978. He did that by bringing Graham much of his support in the conservative Panhandle and agriculture industry.

The assignment has drawn approval from most quarters. In an 11-year House career, Mixson worked with many of the veterans who now run th Legislature. He was especially close to the Panhandle barons who control the Senate where Graham was an out-of-power dissident. Yet Mixson remains something of an enigma. One has only to listen to the differing assessments of two men who watched him closely in the House.

Says one: "He has a manner about him that tends to disarm people; he pretends to be less astute than he really is." Says the other: "That Farmer "Brown image is the way he really is." Mixson persuaded numerous lawmakers that he was a man of his word arid decent motives, not a f(oxanne Block preparers are carefully trained to ask the right questions. They dig for every honest deduction and credit. And they want to! make sure you pay only the taxes you owe. BLOCK THE INCOME TAX PEOPLE WE PREPARE ALL STATE AND CANADIAN RETURN) DOWNTOWN (333-3492) SOUTHTOWN (939-3380) 3431 first St. 13 Woolce Plato (Mini Mall) CAPE CORAL (549-3951 NORTH FORT MYERS (997-31 33) 1413 Cap Coral Pkwy.

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Doily MON. Thru SAT. Sale price If 1135 includes first 9J Wit quality, single What's her heart set on? Your Valentine's heart could be set on our exclusive imported paperweight. Which is a heart she can set on anything she wants! Handmade of Wedgwood glass from King's Lynn, England, with a red speckled center. $18.

Beautiful gifts say, "I love you. vision, standard size clear glass lenses .....29" BIFOCAL EYEGLASSES Sale price includes first-quality, standard size Kryptok, FT-22 or FT-25 clear glass bifocal lenses. FIRST-QUALITY FRAMES LENSES. Choose from an attractive variety of first-quality, American-made frames. No seconds no discontinued styles.

Post cataract lenses, tints and other specialized types are extra. SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNTS accepted on sale eyewear. Sorry, but at these prices, no other discounts or special coupons can be honored. Gene Stuehmer Mr. Stuehmer is a native of Fort Myers.

He graduated from the Hollywood Art Center, Los Angeles, California, in the field of interior design. He practiced in Los Angeles, applying his endeavors toward commercial projects motels, hotels, i condominiums and apartments. Gene acquired additional design education upon returning to this area, and has been associated with Galloway's as a professional designer for three years, completing various projects of assorted good designs. He works in both, the Fort Myers and Naples studios; please stop to meet him. Gene is sensitive to the temper of the times and imaginatively chooses materials that answer your emotional requirements as well as practical needs.

For more information concerning Mr. Stuehmer, or any of our professional design associates, please stop at our showrooms or call Rose Smith at 936-3458 in Fort Myers. 3fi EcEiGydl fjp Jacobs NAPLES INTERIOR DESIGNERS FT. MYERS SARASOTA: 3800 Tamiaml Trail, Phone 959-5561 U.S. Hwy.

41 Beneva Road, Phone 921-6969 BRADENTON: 3904 Manatee Ave. Phone 748-7843 PORT CHARLOTTE: 130 N.W. Tamiami Trail, Phone 625-1878 FT. MYERS: 1952 College Parkway, Phone 936-5591 4025 Palm Beach Phone 694-4222 NAPLES: 4145 Tamiami Trail Phone 261-3899. Fine Jeweten Since 1890 Edison Mall, Ft.

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