Bush to Look at Affirmative Action Plans

By BRAD BENNETT
Herald Staff Writer

Gov. Jeb Bush may try to defuse a political bomb before it explodes.

As California businessman Ward Connerly forges ahead with a drive to ban affirmative action in Florida, Bush is planning his own review of the state's preference programs and may try to make changes.

The governor has appointed his legal office to look at the state's affirmative-action laws, section by section, and suggest possible changes, said Bush spokeswoman Lucia Ross.

``It may be that there are no changes,'' Ross said. ``But he's looking to see if there is anything he disagrees with on the books, that shouldn't be on the books. If there is, he would be looking to make appropriate changes.''

Ross said the move is unrelated to Connerly's effort, which the governor considers divisive.

``He doesn't want any part of his proposal,'' Ross said.

She said Bush is looking at several areas of law to determine whether they need tinkering.

``[Bush] said that he will be looking at the state's affirmative-action policies within the next month or two, and if there are things wrong, he'd fix them,'' Republican State Chairman Al Cardenas said Friday.

Some observers say Bush's efforts could help the Republican Party avoid a split, seeking a more mainstream proposal for altering the state's affirmative-action laws.

Yet, even with the latest gesture, Connerly's supporters are vowing to continue with their petition drive for a ballot measure in 2000.

Existing laws call for women and minorities to be considered in public university admissions as well as government contracting and hiring.

Although Bush has said that he does not want to ban affirmative action, he opposes quotas and set-asides that guarantee a percentage of business to minority contractors.

Ross said that there is no clear plan for change.

Democrats on Friday charged that Bush is wavering on affirmative action to keep from angering black voters while pleasing his traditionally conservative supporters.

Connerly is a conservative black Republican businessman from California who appeals to conservative Republican voters in Florida.

Republican Party members are ``shaking in their boots for fear of energizing and motivating the pro-affirmative action Floridians,'' said Charles Whitehead, chairman of the Florida Democratic Party.

``They've got themselves in a box over affirmative action, and I'm glad it's them and not me,'' he said.

Bush and the state Republican Party have denounced Connerly's effort to push through a ballot measure banning most preferential hiring, with some party members worrying about how Connerly's initiative may affect the presidential election in 2000.

``I personally feel that these referendum questions get mean-spirited and divisive, and I don't like them,'' said Cardenas.

Having a controversial issue like affirmative action on the November 2000 ballot could cost Republicans crucial votes in the presidential election.

A stand against affirmative action could bring out large numbers of black voters, who tend to be Democrats.

Meanwhile, conservatives are also questioning Bush's position.

``When and if the governor takes any action or any initiatives to solve the problems in the education and contracting and employment that we're concerned with, we would certainly welcome that and take a look at it,'' said Herb Harmon, who is managing Connerly's petition drive in Florida.

But he was skeptical about the governor's ability to make changes.

``The question, however, would have to be since we have legislative mandates on some of these programs, and since local governments are involved, what can the governor do?'' Harmon said.

Ross, Bush's spokeswoman, said Bush could issue an executive order ending some of the policies and practices in place to comply with state law.

Connerly's supporters are saying that is not enough.

``A constitutional amendment would be much more permanent than anything [Bush] could do,'' said Allen Douglas, executive director of the Florida Associated General Contractors Council, which is financing the bulk of Connerly's campaign. ``We're moving forward.''

Herald staff writer Lesley Clark contributed to this report.

Return to the News and Announcements page.
Return to the Affirmative Action and Diversity Page

Carl Gutiérrez-Jones
Department of English
University of California, Santa Barbara
e-mail: carlgj@humanitas.ucsb.edu