AN EXCLUSIVE USAPOLL BY JAMES G. KANE
State Senator Steve Geller, who is termed limited this year, has recently announced his intention to challenge fellow Democrat County Commissioner Suzanne Gunzberger for her District 6 Commission seat and has already opened up a campaign account. Challenging a fellow Democrat is highly unusual in Broward unless that Democrat is politically wounded (like Ilene Lieberman’s 1996 challenge of long-time Commissioner Jerry Thompson).
Certainly that is not the case with Suzanne Gunzberger On the other hand, she hasn’t faced any serious challenge for the seat since she won against Don Samuels in 1992, when the race was countywide. At least on the surface, she would appear to be a formidable candidate to unseat.
But Steve Geller is no ordinary challenger. A former state legislator and now a state senator, Steve Geller is one the most politically powerful and influential Democrats in state government. His name has appeared in both the local and state-wide media on almost a weekly basis. In contrast to Sue Gunzberger, however, Steve has had his share of criticism from the press for lobbying for clients before local governments. This issue will undoubtedly find its way into the campaign as we get nearer to the primary. Read the rest of this entry »
