The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 10

FDopfld THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Tuesday, July 14, 1992' 2 more lawmakers decide not to run Foras on Davis said she and Malchon planned to talk to the Senate's Democratic leader, Pat Thomas of Quincy, about their futures. Also Monday, dozens of candidates filed' on the first day to seek election to the Legislature. Among them was former House Speaker Donald Tucker, a Democrat from. Tallahassee hoping to re-enter politics 14 years after retiring from the state House. Tucker, a lobbyist for parl-mutuel busi-; nesses, is seeking a state Senate seat-sprawling from Citrus County to Tallahassee and east to Fernandina Beach, north of.

Jacksonville. most logical district for her to run in would be the Pinellas-dominated district Davis now lives in. For weeks, Malchon and Davis have said they would make a joint decision. Though some Democrats said they expected that Malchon would retire and Davis would seek the seat, both senators said late Monday that no decision had been made. Another option would have Davis move to a district now represented by Sen.

John Grant, R-Tampa. But fellow Democrat, Rep. Mary Figg of Lutz, filed for that race on Monday. nings is one of nearly 40 House members who are either retiring or seeking higher office instead of returning to the House. And today, state Sens.

Jeanne Malchon, D-St. Petersburg, and Helen Gordon Davis, D-Tampa, are expected to announce whether they each will seek re-election. Close allies in the Senate, they saw their districts dramatically altered in redistricting. If Davis doesn't move, she would face a contest in a district dominated by Pinellas voters. She lives on Davis Islands.

Malchon, first elected in 1982, now lives in a minority-dominated district. But the By BILL HALLDIN Tribune Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE Two more state lawmakers added themselves Monday to a growing list of those not seeking re-election to the Florida Legislature. State Sen. Qulllian Yancey, a Democrat from Lakeland whose district was dramatically altered by the redrawing of district boundaries, and state Rep. Harry Jennings, R-Sarasota, both said they would sit this election out.

Yancey is the 12th of the 40 senators to choose not to return to the Senate and Jen Andrea Drunais 'M Psychiatrist finds Wuornos incompetent By KEVIN METZ Tribune Staff Writer DADE CITY After receiving four death sentences and spending months in solitary confinement, serial killer Aileen Wuornos is no longer mentally competent to stand trial, a psychiatrist has ruled. The ruling raises the question of whether the former prostitute's convictions in three of those cases could be overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. Wuornos, 36, has admitted killing seven men on Florida highways in 1989 and 1990. She pleaded guilty last month to the June 1990 shooting death of 40-year-old Charles E. Carskad-don of Missouri in Pasco County.

However, the ruling by i I oainesvuie psycniainsi Harry Krop will delay the sentencing ui 4 ml hearine in Pasco Circuit Court at least two months, said Assistant State Attorney Phil Van Allen. The jury had been scheduled to hear evidence today. Wuornos was examined be psychiatrists four times and 11V'-" State law on fee caps gets tossed A federal judge said the law regulating doctor-owned clinics is unconstitutional. An Associated Press Report TALLAHASSEE A federal judge on Monday threw out a new state law that caps fees at doctor-owned clinics, in a ruling that one state official estimated could cost the public hundreds of millions of dollars. The Legislature passed the law this spring in an effort to control the state's skyrocketing health care costs.

State health officials say the doctor-owned joint-venture clinics drive up costs because doctors over-utilize them. In addition, the clinics often charge too much for their services, officials say. Many of the worst abuses reportedly have happened in connection with clinics that provide diagnostic imaging. But U.S. District Judge William Stafford ruled Monday that the new fee-cap law violates the U.S.

Constitution because it doesn't affect all doctors equally. The law exempts clinics owned by so-called group medical practices, which can offer a wide range of medical services. The doctor-owned clinics operate more like businesses, because the doctors who own them usually don't practice medicine together, state lawyers said. Stafford concluded that wasn't enough of a distinction. He ruled that the Legislature had no "rational basis" for classifying group practices differently.

"I do not find that there is any rational basis for imposing these caps on some of the medical profession but not all, or on some of the physicians but not all," Stafford said. He said he would enter a permanent injunction against the fee caps. Disappointed state lawyers said an appeal is likely. The Legislature also might have to read-dress the law, said Tom Wallace, acting head of a state agency that oversees health costs. Wallace said that lifting the fee caps could cost state residents as much as $200 million to $500 million.

That's the amount of excessive charges at the clinics in the past. It i a. Si. Ki 2 "w- SltelZ s. v-h itjj' Aileen Wuor- found competent each time nos has admit- once ft Krfop bft teri iriiiinn ea fore sne received her first death ieo Killing sev- penalty ln Volusia County In en men.

February in the killing of a Clearwater man. But months in solitary confinement on death row have taken a toll, said Steven Glazer, Wuornos' Gainesville attorney. "I think the solitude, the understanding that she has four death sentences has changed her somehow," Glazer said. "I said two weeks ago that she was competent. Now I'm not sure." Krop examined Wuornos this weekend and notified officials of his finding Monday.

The psychiatric evaluation is to be submitted to the court today. Two more doctors will examine Wuornos before Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper can decide whether she is fit to stand sentencing trial. The outcome of the examinations, however, will not affect the previous convictions. Van Allen said. Because Glazer has never tried to argue that Wuornos was incompetent at the time the crimes were committed, her mental state will bear only on future court proceedings and the imposition of the death penalty, Van Allen said.

The Florida Supreme Court, which automatically reviews all death penalty cases, could order retrials if her mental state is questioned. Glazer said the doctor's finding will call into question whether she was competent to enter pleas in the Pasco case and three Marion County cases and could force retrials. Wuornos has said she killed only after abuse and blamed her convictions on prosecutors and judges seeking publicity for re-election campaigns. She will remain at the Broward Correctional Institution, the home of Florida's death row for women, until a Pasco jury reaches a verdict on the death penalty. On domes, diamonds and dames Women helped save baseball In war- time 1942; why can't they help save St.

Pe-' tersburg's Suncoast Dome in 1992? If the question hasn't occurred to you, maybe you haven't seen the summer hit "A League of Their Own." Sappy but snappy, mawkish but magnifi- cent, the movie reminds us that when men strode off to war, women stepped up to the plate. It really happened: Backed by chew-. ing-gum magnate and Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League came into being. At first the women, recruited by scouts scoured Canada, Cuba and the United States, played to skimpy, derisive audienc-'es.

(As slugger-turned-manager Jimmy Du-gan in the movie mutters, "Girls are what you sleep with after the Later the distaff draftees drew stadiumsful of cheer-; ing, dedicated fans. In 1948, the league's 10 teams wowed 1 million spectators. Those gals didn't just keep the home fires burning; they kept the home runs a-coming. OK. So maybe there never was a leggy catcher named Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) who could do the splits and catch a pop fly.

But in real life there was a hot-stuff shortstop named Dottie Schroeder of whom Cubs manager Charlie Grimm once said, "If she was a boy, I'd give $50,000 for her." DiMaggio times 2 Tribune reporter Doug Stanley unearthed that last tidbit when he interviewed retired members of the league who now live in West and Central Florida. "Not bad," Stanley observes, regarding Schroe- reputed dollar value, "considering the New York Yankees had a center fielder in those days they picked up from the San Francisco Seals for $25,000 some guy by name of Joe DiMaggio." So good were the teams, the league drew a higher percentage of the population in league cities than major league baseball had until then "in its greatest attendance years," reports "Total Baseball: The Ultimate Baseball Encyclopedia." OK. So maybe Life magazine never did a story playing up the rivalry between Dot-tie and her skinny kid sister, whose stone-hearted jealousy matched her rock-hard pitcher's arm. But Life did do a spread on the league. There, in black and white, in the June 4, 1945, issue: Photographs of grimacing batters and glamorous outfielders.

Wpmen bruised from sliding into third (miniskirts and knee socks provided scant protection). A catcher with looks to kill and a killer look on her face. "They can steal bases, take a lead and glide, which Softball The result is something to make a male sandlotter blink," Life gushed. "Last season, playing 120 games, infielder Alma Ziegler muffed only two grounders. Sophie Sayrs stole 166 bases.

Pitcher Dorothy Wiltse struck out 205." Phased out We've come a long way, baby. Back then, there were expectations. By league rules, a player couldn't smoke or drink or date. She always had to wear feminine attire. (No pants, please!) No greater symbol bf "the changed landscape exists than Madonna, who plays "All-the-way Mae," the sassiest of the Rockfold Peaches.

Madonna: there's a woman who's unfettered, ev.en when she's in chains. Smoking, drinking and dating? Mild pastimes, compared with what's socially acceptable for young women today. Today just ask Madonna) women can march around in missile-shaped tin brassieres if they so desire. They can do things on film that, if done privately in league days, would have driven their mothers to suicide. But guess what they can't do.

"Plaaaaa-ayyy ball!" In 1952, organized baseball formalized the ban against women signing professional baseball contracts with men's teams. "Total Baseball" reports: "The ruling still stands." Sadly, the league does not: In 1954, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League died. But if what's past is prologue, perhaps 5t, Petersburg with its empty Dome of Dreams ought to start making like Wrigley. Just as social mores changed, so did baseball ownership rules. Rules that squeeze St.

out. i League members who were squeezed, too went back to the kitchen without a squawk, But, like Rosie the Riveter, these athletes proved they had the right stuff. Stuff worth paying to see. are sillier things St. Petersburg could do with taxpayer money than use it to seed development of a women's baseball league.

Look at it this way: A city that single-mindedly devoted itself to the revival of women's baseball would be in a league of Its own. And maybe that damn Dome would be-coire worth its weigiy in diamonds. Associated Press photograph The long and winding line People wait in line Monday N' Wild water park in Orlando, along a spiral stairway leading to Hot, humid weather has kept the the Black Hole, a ride at the Wet park packed in recent weeks. assigned to the 60th Fighter Squadron. His age and hometown were not immediately available.

Veteran Tampa lawyer reprimanded by court FLORIDA Phosphorus 40 percent over limits OKEECHOBEE Phosphorus pouring Into Lake Okeechobee exceeded state limits by 40 percent in the last two years, and environmentalists are urging the state to resume buying out dairy farmers. "There should be a sense of urgency about what is happening because the lake cannot stand these phosphorus loads," said environmentalist Nat Reed of Hobe Sound. To protect the lake, Reed and other environmentalists say further reductions are needed in the dairy cow herds that are vital to Okeechobee County's economy. These cows supply most of South Florida's milk, but their manure also is a prime source of phosphorus and other harmful nutrients ln Lake Okeechobee. Farm owners say they have been installing new technology, and need time to make it work.

Officials say law may be working TALLAHASSEE Fewer students are dropping out and losing their driver's licenses, and a state official said Monday that's a sign of modest success for Florida's anti-dropout program. But Hal Lewis, a Department of Education analyst, warned that the program is only working with those who have or want licenses, and other approaches are needed for less-motivated dropouts. Under the law which took effect in October 1989, the state takes driver's licenses away from students ages 15-17 if they skip 11 consecutive school days or 20 days in a single school year. The number of requests for suspensions rose sharply from the '89-91 school year to '90-91 but the number of actual suspensions dropped from 9,602 to 3,748 as more students returned to school or signed attendance agreements. retainer was non-refundable and that based on his hourly fee, an additional $10,000 also had been earned.

At a Dec. 7, 1990, hearing before a Bar grievance committee, Gonzalez testified that at his usual rate of $200 an hour, the fee should have been $54,000 to $55,000. At a second hearing Dec. 18, 1990, Gonzalez acknowledged that based on the hours he worked on the case, the fee should have been just $22,800. Gonzalez, a member of the Bar since 1958, refunded $25,000 to the client last Feb.

18, the Bar records show. Gonzalez, who has an office ln Miami as well as in Tampa, couldn't be reached for comment. But his attorney, Joseph G. Dona-hey Jr. of Clearwater, said the incident was unfortunate.

"This is the kind of unfortunate occurrence that busy lawyers representing many clients can run into," Donahey said Monday. "Mr. Gonzalez made every effort to settle the matter, and In fact did." In addition to representing Hearst and Trafflcante, who died In March of 1987, Gonzalez also represented Larry Singleton, a Tampa native convicted of raping a teen-age girl and chopping off her forearms with an ax in a remote Californl town in 1978. By ORVAL JACKSON Tribune Staff Writer TAMPA The Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded veteran Tampa lawyer Henry Gonzalez, whose clients have included newspaper heiress Patty Hearst and reputed Mafia don Santo Traf-ficante Jr. The high court ordered last week that Gonzalez be publicly reprimanded and placed on one year's probation for charging a client an excessive fee.

The court also ordered Gonzalez to pay costs of $1,616.60. Gonzalez signed papers March 18 admitting the allegation, according to records at the Florida Bar's Tampa office. According to the Bar records, Gonzalez told a client it would cost as much as $50,000, plus costs, to defend him against charges filed in a 1987 fatal traffic accident. Gonzalez asked for a $25,000 retainer. The client paid Gonzalez the retainer, plus an additional $10,000.

The client later voiced concern over what he perceived to be a lack of activity by Gonzalez, and fired the attorney. The client asked Gonzalez for a statement of his services and a refund of all prepaid money not spent for the services provided, according to the records. They show Gonzalez told the client the 5 1 Serbian Orthodox church firebombed MIAMI A tiny Serbian Orthodox church was firebombed, officials said. A small fire started early Sunday In the chapel of St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church ln the Dade County community of Biscayne Gardens.

Two Serbian immigrants slept in a side room of the church, but the blaze did not reach them. Church went on Sunday morning despite the smell of smoke. Members would not speculate whether the incident was related to the civil war raging in their homeland. Serbs have been fighting Croats and Muslims who voted In February to secede from Yugoslavia and form their own republic. Pilot rescued after plane crashes PENSACOLA An Air Force pilot was rescued Monday from the Gulf of Mexico about an hour after his plane went down on a routine training mission, an Air Force spokeswoman said.

The pilot of the F-15C, assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglln Air Force Base, ejected before the aircraft crashed into the Gulf about 90 miles south of Eglin, said Capt. Susan Brown, an Air Force spokeswoman. The pilot was in good shape when picked up about an hour after the 9 a.m. crash. He was identified as Capt.

Darren S. Ruhnau, A Wire Services Report.