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Reno Talks Education, Elections By ABBY WEINGARTEN Bradenton (Fla.) Herald Posted on Mon, Oct. 20, 2003 SARASOTA - Driving through Myakka City on Sunday, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno marveled at the wetland wilderness - and feared for its survival. The state of ecology worries her, namely the approach by Republicans to address it, she told a group of 280 Sunday night. The Democratic Club of Sarasota gathered at Michael's on East in Sarasota during the "Taking Back the White House: A Democratic Empowerment Dinner" to watch keynote speaker Reno rally support for the upcoming 2004 election. Likening the proposed restoration of politics to her mother's meticulous building of her childhood home, she said steps to effect change must be taken from the ground up. "We need a president in the White House who cherishes this country's land," she said. "If they're going to mess up Myakka, I'm going to be awfully upset." The 65-year-old Miami resident also is concerned that children in the public school system are being left behind, that students are not being sufficiently guided by their elders, and that senior citizens are not receiving proper medical treatment and vaccinations. She advocates small classes, especially in kindergarten through third grade, and more thorough training for educators, topics she would have pushed for had she been successful last year in her bid to become Florida's next governor. "If we can spend $87 billion for Iraq, we can spend money so that no child in America is homeless," she said. Pat Liebert, the club's president, said after Reno spoke at the club in 2001, membership skyrocketed and has since nearly doubled to 400, with members from ages 30 to 90. "Janet is an extraordinary person and speaks well for what the Democratic party should be about," Liebert said, alluding to her 2001 speech promoting party growth. "She enthralled us all." Democratic Congressional candidates for District 13, attorneys Jan Schneider and C.J. Czaia, and Sarasota City Commissioner Mary Anne Servian expressed their admiration for Reno's grassroots, down-to-earth principles. When Reno was appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1993 as the first female U.S. Attorney General, she labored to reduce the crime rate, enforce civil rights and prosecute violations of ecological statutes. From the confrontation with the Branch Davidian religious cult in Waco, Texas and her decision to raid the homes of 6- year-old Elian Gonzalez's relatives so the boy could be returned to his father in Cuba, Reno has tackled her share of controversy. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, N.Y. in 2000. Her first words at the podium were: "There is somebody in this room whose daughter is going to be president some day." In an interview with the Herald, Reno said she has been spending her personal time teaching as a visiting fellow for the University of Miami School of Law and Cornell University, and connecting with her brothers and sisters in Miami. She is working on a law review article about preventing the conviction of innocent people through proper DNA testing - the completion and publish dates are still tentative. Because of Parkinson's disease, her handwriting suffers, she said, but that doesn't dampen her passion for writing. Reno said she has no current plans of running in upcoming elections. Rather, she prefers to travel throughout the state to address what she believes are some of the most pressing weaknesses in politics: the public education system, primary health care, and skills training in the workforce. "She's one of the best gubernatorial candidates we've ever had," said Chuck Cooper, chairman of the Manatee County Democratic Party. "She has stuck to her guns through very difficult times in history and brought such good values to Washington." Every fall, the club meets for a political fund-raising dinner with seats ranging from $65 to $200, which is funneled into the campaigns of Democratic candidates, Liebert said. Sunday's showing was the largest crowd in the 20-year history of the club, she said, and Liebert hopes it continues to grow. Meanwhile, Reno will be spreading the message statewide that what transpires in Washington, D.C. is funneled down to Florida, and encouraging voters to flock to the polls. Before leaving the area of Sarasota and Manatee counties, she said, "You have one of the most beautiful places in the world." And Reno hopes she won't see that scenery changed. Abby Weingarten, law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 745-7095 or at [log in to unmask] SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, CA http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7059267.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn