Party coup put in motion by Forman

In a bold challenge to Broward Democratic Party Chairman Mitch Ceasar, longtime politician Howard Forman has launched a one-man campaign to reinvigorate the local party and position himself as the leader.

Forman wrote to hundreds of activists this week, calling for their ideas to improve candidate recruitment, voter turnout and voter registration.

''A lot of people don't like the condition of the Democratic party and have asked me to take more of a leadership role,'' said Forman, who has held office for three decades as Hallandale Beach city commissioner, county commissioner, state senator and now as clerk of courts.

His written appeal amounts to an early power play for the chairmanship of the largest local Democratic party in Florida and one of the largest in the country. Asked if he was running for the post in December 2004, Forman said: ``Darn right I am.''

The election may be 17 months away, but party members are starting to choose between the two men: Forman, one of the county's elder and most respected public servants, and Ceasar, a Brooklyn-born lawyer-lobbyist who relishes opportunities to pound the gavel and stir up activists at party meetings.

Ceasar defended his stewardship of the local party, which he has led since 1996. He noted that the 45 percent turnout in the November 2002 election was the same as four years earlier. Attendance at party meetings always dips in the summer, he said, and is still bigger than in most other counties. Broward has more registered Democratic voters than ever.

Ceasar went on to take a swipe at Forman, noting that he joined the party's executive committee just two months ago.

''I'm glad he's finally decided to show an interest in the party,'' Ceasar said. ``I eagerly look forward to him raising money for the party to fund different programs. Better late than never.''

Forman said he has belonged to the executive committee for most of the past 30 years. He is a regular presence at meetings and party events. He said he has given thousands of dollars in leftover campaign contributions to the party, helped run campaign headquarters and raised money for the Pembroke Pines Democratic Club.

''Whether I was on or off [the committee], I've certainly been around and been a loyal Democrat,'' Forman said.

Reaction to Forman's letter is mixed. Hollywood Democratic Club President John Coleman, who has vigorously defended the party's showing in the November 2002 election, said, ``There's an awful lot we need to do before the presidential election, and that shouldn't include divisive activities to cut Mitch down. I think that's outrageous.''

But Palm-Aire Democratic Club President Casey Pollack said he appreciated the letter. ''It's important that we respond and try to put more spirit into the Democratic grass-roots movement,'' he said. ``Forman is a good person to take the bull by the horns. Mitch tries to do the best he can, but that may not be good enough.''

Forman's letter is the latest effort by an elected official to rebuild the local party without turning first to Ceasar. Wilton Manors Mayor Jim Stork is spearheading a project in which volunteers will knock on the doors of 10,000 infrequent Broward Democratic voters to pinpoint issues that would motivate them to vote in 2004.

Critics of Ceasar have grumbled for months that he has failed to boost aging troops with younger and more diverse members and that he has used the chairmanship to build up his lobbying practice. They also say Ceasar has not raised enough money or built a ''farm team'' of local elected officials. The party did not field a Democratic candidate for mayor of Davie, for example, allowing Republicans to gain a majority on the Town Council.

Forman said he sent the letter to Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox so ''he'll know what I'm doing.'' Earlier this year, Maddox ousted the chairman and two other party officials in Hernando County after two years of bickering and chaos. Maddox could not be reached for comment Wednesday.