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In the Democratic primary for attorney general, I’ve been torn about which candidate to back, thinking they were both good. I liked what I heard from Gelber, but also was influenced by the argument that Aronberg might run stronger statewide. But now I’m annoyed with Dave Aronberg. I can’t respect this recent tactic of flogging Dan Gelber over a supposed conflict of interest because the law firm Gelber worked for has taken BP as a client.
Gelber resigned from the firm out of political necessity, even though he personally never had anything to do with representing BP and taking them on as a client wasn’t his call. But I just got another email from Aronberg rehashing this issue. Strikes me as opportunistic and cynical.
As scored by the PolitiFact fact checking project:
Dan Gelber and his ties to BP questioned by opponentIf Florida winds up suing BP over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a newly elected Attorney General Dan Gelber may have to sit the case out, according to his rival for the Democratic nomination. Dave Aronberg says that Gelber could be disqualified from representing the state in a case against BP because the private law firm he worked for until recently, Akerman Senterfitt, signed BP as a client in oil spill matters.
… we turned to a cadre of legal experts to see if there is or could be a conflict.
Most thought it would be difficult to have Gelber removed. (Read the analysis)
Here’s this week’s release from Aronberg, if you want to judge for yourself.
Updated: I’ve revised this post to use slightly less inflammatory language, and to add the link to PolitiFact. Fans of Dave Aronberg are welcome to respond, or post their own entries on why they support him.
Dear Friends,
As a horrified nation watches daily news reports of oil washing up on our shores, it has become clear, as President Obama said, that this is indeed “the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced.”
Not only is the oil spill one of the most important challenges facing Florida today, it also presents the most important legal issue facing our state’s next Attorney General.
In what may well be the biggest lawsuit in Florida history, the next Attorney General will have to lead the state’s legal response to the actions of BP, Halliburton and Transocean.
In my opinion, Florida’s next Attorney General should not come from BP’s law firm.
Two months ago, BP hired Dan Gelber’s law firm to represent the company in Florida. Because of this potential conflict of interest, I, along with many others, have serious concerns about my opponent’s ability to represent Florida against BP as Attorney General.
I fully realized that by shedding light on these facts, my opponent’s supporters would accuse me of negative campaigning.
I strongly disagree.
Like you, I too am tired of personal attacks in politics: vicious campaign ads that reference someone’s family or an innocent youthful indiscretion have no place in politics.
But when the number one issue facing the next Attorney General is the impending lawsuit on behalf of the people of Florida against BP, it is crucial information to know that one of the Attorney General candidates may be disqualified from leading the charge against BP. You don’t have to be a lawyer to see the potential conflict of interest when someone works for BP’s law firm and then turns around and sues BP as Florida Attorney General.
Whether Florida’s next Attorney General can sue BP is not only a relevant issue — it is one of the most important issues of this campaign.
The people of Florida will ultimately decide whether I am right or wrong to highlight this issue in this race.
However this election turns out, at least it will be decided on relevant issues, not red herrings. On public policy, not personalities. On oil, and not on mud.
Sincerely,
