TAMPA, Fla. — December 12 will mark 20 years since former Governor Lawton Chiles died from a heart attack in the governor’s mansion. He was just 23 days away from completing his second term in office.
- Jubilee 2018 held Saturday
- Family, former staff honor Lawton Chiles
- Chiles a former governor of Florida
This weekend, family and former staff of the late governor gathered in Tampa to remember the man and honor his legacy.
“I think some days like it's just yesterday, we were hunting together or that we were together talking about legislation or family,” said Chiles’ son, Lawton “Bud” Chiles III. “And other times it seems like a long time ago, so it's mixed emotions.”
Others like the governor’s former communications director took the time to point out the landmark accomplishment reached under Lawton’s administration.
“We're attempting to raise $50-$100,000 for the Lawton Chiles Foundation for its advocacy work on behalf of Florida's children,” said former communications director Ron Sachs. “But the reunion is about remembering the life and legacy of Lawton Chile's from fighting the tobacco industry and winning a $13 billion settlement. The first state to ever crush big tobacco in court. (It’s the) first lawsuit to ever be victorious, to being the "Childrens' Governor" who was all about early childhood health and education. He was a great man. We were fortunate to have him leading our state and representing us in Washington.”
Before he was elected governor in 1991, Chiles severed as Florida’s U.S. Senator from 1971 to 1989. Given the recent controversies surrounding how the votes were counted in races for both those offices this election, Chiles’ family was quick to react to it.
“I think it would make him sick to his stomach,” Chiles III said. “He used to say to me, ‘Democracy has to go to school once in a while.’ But I think he would have never thought that we would be at this level of disfunctionality in government.”
Former Florida Governor Bob Graham who was also their to honor Chiles had his own opinion about Florida’s election process.
“This is just unacceptable,” Gov. Graham said. "First in 2000 and then again in 2018, Florida has become the laughing stock of the country.”