Fort Lauderdale News du lieu suivant : Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 4

4A Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel, Saturday, August 26, 1978 Gimter: An Aloof Incumbent Running Against Hazelton Don Iluzelton Democrat, West Palm Beach Insurance executive -Collected: $93,452 Spent: $86,513 Gunter refused tlie debate in February. Haelton decided to hold the debate without his opponent on the steps of the Capitol. Hazelton planned to read quotes from Gunter when it was the insurance commissioner's side to debate. Just as Hazelton was announcing that Gunter would not show up for tlie debate, Gunter walked down the Capitol steps gave his statement and walked away. Leaving Hazelton alone on the Capitol steps.

Gunter, who has sidestepped a one-on-one confrontation with Hazelton and has instead centered his campaign around the accomplishments of his office, has collected- $155,898 in contributions and spent $146,657. The bulk of the expenditures have been on the purchase of media advertising, with the remainder going to literature, travel and office expeases. His contributions have come from the agriculture industry, business, construction interests, insurance in never heard by the full committee. Although Gunter recently said his office is investigating tlx.1 possibility of just such a commission, Hazelton criticized him for not backing the subcommittee proposal last session. Gunter said he did not support it then because his office is still gathering information from other states where there are similar commissions.

The high costs of insurance "cries out for attention," Gunter said in explaining he is inclined to support a statewide hospital commission. He has vowed to work with the legislative study commission to see what can be done about lowering workman's compensation rates. He called it a "terrible problem" that needs to be solved to enhance the economy and attract new industry. Hazelton and Gunter have also been at odds over increases given Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. Hazelton chaired an ad hoc legislative subcommittee last year to investigate whether a 30 percent rate increase, sought by Blue Cross-Blue Shield, was justified.

He said the increase, which was eventually granted, was not justified. The two men have been adversaries on many of the issues for years, Hazelton, early in the campaign, wanted to debate Gunter on his FAIR amendment $60 million to drivers after his office determined major insurers were making excessive profits through their old rate structures. Gunter pushed successful legislation this year which would establish a uniform reporting system requiring insurance companies to submit detailed reports on company losses by classification of drivers. An aide to Gunter said that gives the Insurance Commissioner's office another means of reviewing rates and determining if the companies are making excess profits from certain drivers. Hazelton said Gunter hasn't been forceful enough in making insurance dole out the rebates already ordered.

He has a sign on his car telling other drivers to honk if they have not gotten their rebate yet. He says he gets honked at a lot on the state's highways. Hazelton says the Insurance Commissioner needs a better staff to challenge the industry's rate-making process. Hazelton said the state should do away with the "nonsense of allowing rate discrimination on the1 basis of age and sex." He said there need to be state guidelines on how insurance companies process customer claims. "People go to lawyers because insurv ance companies treat them shabbily." Hazelton said companies sliould have to handle claims within a given period of time and that one company should not be able to make lavish payments on a claim turned down by another company.

Hazelton, an insurance executive, charges one of the most important factors in high insurance costs, especially workman's compensation, is the increase in hospital costs. He chairs an insurance subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee which this past session suggested legislation to develop a stated wide commission to review hospital costs. The commission would have the authority to grant or reject rate increases for all hospitals in the state public and private. The issue was By Linda Kleindienst Political Writer The Democratic primary race for state Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner, which started a year ago, has pitted an aloof incumbent against one of his longtime critics. Incumbent Insurance Commissioner William Gunter, 43, w1k was elected to the position in 1T6, remains calm, ignoring criticism and talking instead about the workings of his office while on the campaign trail.

His primary opponent, 49-year-old state Rep. Don Hazelton, D-West Palm Beach, has been constantly nipping at Gunter's heels, repeatedly criticizing Gunter, his office and practices. Gunter, a former congressman from Orlando, barely lost the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in 1974 to Sen. Richard Stone.

Gunter had already served one term in Congress and prior to that served six years in the state Senate. He was an executive with Southland Equity an insurance holding company, before deciding to seek election for the Cabinet to fill the remaining two years in the term of former Insurance Commissioner Tom O'Malley. O'Malley had resigned the dual post after the House impeached him in 1975 in a kickback scheme. The outspoken, feisty Hazelton, was first elected to the House in 1970 and during his legislative service has worked in the areas of insurance and parole and probation. He has also been active in the areas of drug abuse reform and juvenile programs.

Hazelton, in this campaign, has hit hard at a constitutional amendment proposed last year by Gunter which would have prohibited "pain and suffering" lawsuits stemming from any automobile accident. Gunter quoted his office's actuaries as saying motorists would save 30 percent on their automobile liability insurance if his proposal were passed. Gunter formed a group called I. William Gunter Democrat, Tallahassee Insurance Commissioner Collected: $155,898 Spent: $146,657 that motorists would save 30 percent of their liability premiums with the amendment. Hazelton called the Fair Amendment "the biggest hoax since snake oil." He claimed it would steal a person's right to go to court.

Gunter says his office's primary thrust has been in the area of auto insurance. Gunter ordered automobile insurance companies to rebate more than JL Floridians for Auto Insurance Reform (FAIR) to gather enough signatures to get his proposal, called the FAIR Amendment, on a statewide ballot. But Gunter abandoned the movement when the state Legislature passed a less-extensive measure which would ban "pain and suffering" lawsuits except when death or serious injury results from an auto-, mobile accident. Hazelton disputed Gunter's claim Atlantic Foundation for the Performing Arts dustry and the medical protession. Hazelton has collected $93,452 and spent $86,513 on newspaper advertising, printing and postage.

He has received support from attorneys. Gunter earlier charged that Hazelton was acting as a surrogate for the trial lawyers by "parroting" their arguments against the FAIR Amendment. Gunter said trial lawyers would lose a major source of their income had the FAIR Amendment been enacted. an open admissions policy tor students, national origin. Attorney General For 'More Law, Candidates Call Less Politics' The Academy of Performing Arts Artistic Director: RUTH C.

PETRINOVIC announces the addition of a THEATRE ARTS DEPARTMENT under the direction of JOYCE HALL and ALLEN HILL training in all areas of Musical Theatre DANCE DEPARTMENT Ballet (beginner, intermediate, advanced, professional levels) Jazz Tap Modem Flamenco Acrobatics REGISTRATION August 28th through September 1st 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. registration in person only 1st AVE. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301 462-5297 4G7-003G The Academy ot the Foundation has regardless ot race, creea.

religion or 995E Simply Smashing! By Linda Kleindtenst Political Writer Florida's attorney general traditionally has mixed a little too much politics with his law, say three candidates for the office who each tout themselves as the "non-politician" the office needs. It is an office that during the past decade has produced two gubernatorial candidates, including the present Attorney General Robert Shevin. But, the three Democrats (no Republican is running) seeking the spot on the Cabinet this year are campaigning on the basis that the office has become too political. The candidates are: State Rep. Alan Becker, D-North Miami Beach, an attorney who has served in the state House since 1972.

State Rep. Barry Richard, D-Miami, an attorney who served four years with the attorney general's office under Shevin and then was elected to the House in 1974. James Smith, a Tallahassee attorney, who has been deputy secretary of both the state Department of State and Department of Commerce, senior staff assistant to Gov. Reubin Askew for several years, executive assistant to the lieutenant governor and now serves on the state Board of Regents. The 38-year-old Smith has been both the top money-raiser and top spender in the attorney general's race.

To date he has collected $248,633 from a list of people that looks like a who's who of state government, including former Governors Leroy Collins and Ferris Bryant, Miami Dolphins' owner Joe Robbie, Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden and a string of Askew's aides, appointments and supporters. He has spent $237,430 on campaign staff salaries, printing and office costs and a good portion for a television and radio campaign. Alan Becker Democrat, North Miami Beach Attorney Collected: $143,000 Spent: $137,000 I 4 i4 statewide campaign. The contributions, according to his staff, come from general support throughout the state, although some of the major contributions come from attorneys. He has spent the money primarily on television advertising and staff and travel expenses.

The three candidates appear to agree on most of the major issues. What they all point out in their campaigning is the need to put an at furniture designs Our torched bamboo arm chair imported from the Far East is just the eclectic touch for any room which wishes to stand torney in the office who will serve as an attorney for the state rather than a politician. Smith has criticized the current administration of Shevin, saying the office has issued too many legal opinions without enough proper research and that he has talked to judges who have "thrown them in the waste-basket." "I don't have a grand political plan," explained Smith. "I am in a position where I don't need the job for salary. We need to elect an attorney general who will be a good lawyer.

We've had 16 years of of attorney generals who were candidates for governor (Shevin and Earl Fair-cloth)." He said that current Attorney General Shevin has used the office to gain publicity and has let political consequences become a factor in his decisions. Becker has attacked the current administration for issuing too many opinions. Becker worked in the attorney general's office for a short time in 1969 and then became an assistant public defender for Dade County from 1969 until 1972. Richard, who has played the leading role in sentencing reform in the Legislature during the past four years, served as chief deputy to the attorney general for two years in Tallahassee and then was head of the attorney general's south Florida regional office for two years. "No other candidate has had touch with that office," he claims.

Richard, whose minimum mandatory sentencing reform bill passed the House and Senate this past session but then was vetoed by Askew, has focused much of his campaign on the need for sentencing reform. He was author of legislation establishing a three-year minimum mandatory sentence for persons convicted of crimes where a weapon was used. Richard is also calling for uniformity of sentencing in the state. Richard also introduced a bill last session to strip the attorney general of votes on several state committees. roar iauoi aoLi miwi AND IOH tlNTIMiL CtrcwtaHefli rel-4tia ClmMMi m-4111 Omr Peeei lliwnltl Mt-MM Fort L.udereale Newt vubmhrnl tvry wnkMv afternoon Monday ttirouvh Prl Bay at Frf Lauderdale, ia (Fori Lauderdale Nam and ueniinel pub.

hthpd Saturday and lunday mornlnee). The Newt SuMdlne, 101 North New River Drive Catt. Im Code Uwl aecond claM ptnt.ee paid at Fort Lauderdale. fUltcmrriON Fatet It Carrier) I I www out trom the ordinary. In luxurious tortoise finish only VAMTTA Jim Smith Democrat, Tallahassee Attorney -Collected: $248,633 Spent: $237,430 Barry Richard Democrat, Miami Attorney Collected: $110,000 Spent: $110,000 Becker, 32, has collected $143,000 in campaign contributions, with the average contribution being about $50.

He has spent approximately $137,000 on the campaign to date, with the majority of funds going to the printing of more than 500,000 pamphlets, billboard advertising and transportation to campaign in precincts around the state. Richard, 36, has collected and spent about $110,000 thus far, on his 2S-year-old former campaign manager, Vic Vickers, as his deputy, comptroller. Dansby criticizes Lewis for hiring a private attorney to defend his firing of an employee, a task the state Attorney General's Office should have performed, according to Dansby. And Dansby said Lewis was wrong to go to the press to announce his investigation of Gov. Reubin Askew'g overseas economic development trips to Japan and Europe.

Lewis revealed the lavish spending by Askew and his entourage. "That could have been handled internally," said Daasby. Dansby first thought of challenge ing Lewis after the comtproller's office recently denied a savings and loan charter application by Daasby and IS other investors. An angry Dansby saw no basis for It. "There's Just one savings and loan In the four county area we sought to represent," he said.

The denial is on appeal to tlie First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. Dansby Is no longer among the Investors. He resigned from the group to run against Lewis. Now It's Dansby Who Talks To Empty Chair inrii6 Dansby has run for public office twice before. In 1968 he was elected public defender for seven North Florida rural counties.

In 1972 he lost a bid to become a circuit court judge in that same area. He promises to develop a scheme whereby mortgage brokers, security dealers, bankers and savings and loan people would police themselves through codes of ethics. His office would monitor them. Dansby says Lewis uses the office's far-reaching powers to meddle in the Industries' business. His method would let them police themselves, he said.

Because of his low budget, most of Dansby's traveling has been to news- Eaper editorial Interviews, although said he has stumped the north part of the state, He plans some television advertising in the closing days of tlie campaign, but he acknowledges that a planned television blitz by Lewis will overshadow his. Dansby said he hasn't been too successful raising funds his contributions are just $3,935 and he has spent $3,302 of that. People Interested in the office are afraid to contribute to him, he says. Continued From Page 3A Lewis, 44, became comptroller by defeating Republican attorney William Muntzing of Kissimmee. Two years before that, when he was running for a seat on the Public Service Commission, Lewis got more than a million votes but lost the race.

In tlie 1974 comptroller race, Lewis forced the debate with incumbent Dickiason by finishing ahead of him in the first primary. Dickinson, whpse income tax returns were being studied by a federal grand Jury at the time, agreed to the debate in hopes of pushing ahead in the runoff. Daasby recognizes he can't get a debate through that avenue since he and Lewis are alone in tlie primary. Still, he pleads for the debate because he sees it as his chance of catching the Incumbent. "There are certain things the public should know about Mr.

Lewis," Dansby, a 45-year-old attorney, said. Dansby criticizes Lewis as a pubiiciry-seeker who exaggerates the scope of the frauds he investigates. Dansby criticizes Lewis for hiring his Dally tvnday llt-l till 11 14 mkt to Week teterday lunday I I I WhwM I II MWeeM 1170 rvaekt Jl 40 lUttCaiFTION TI My Mall) U.I, ANO FOIIItllONI Bally 4 lunday I Week I I ii wwkt wmkt ii I 00 lunday Only I I) rVevkt I to weMl II 00 rVeekt It 00 furniture designs The Contemporary Look at Discount Prices 1200 So. Powcrlino Pompano (1 Mile South of Atlantic Blvd.) 10 972 7, Sat. 10-6 6840 war Mail euh.crl.Hoft In advance Member of Audit Bureau ef Circulation.