ATLANTA -- Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles said Wednesday that he will seek re-election to a second term next year, ending months of speculation about whether he would run.
Chiles said that Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay would again be his running mate.
Chiles said that neither he nor MacKay would actively campaign until after the end of the 1994 regular session of the state Legislature. The session is set to begin Feb. 8 and end in April.
The governor alsos said that his campaign will conduct no fund-raising during the legislative session.
"The work in front of us during the next few months is far more important than election-year politics," Chiles said. "We don't want the critical public policy issues and decisions that must be confronted to be tainted by politics."
Chiles said he would focus "priority attention" during the upcoming session of the legislature on "safe schools, safe streets, and safer communities."
In an accompanying speech, MacKay stressed economic development.
"Florida is considered a national leader in the economic recovery that is taking root right now," MacKay said. "We've made a priority of broadening the state's economic base to encourage vital new industries, revitalize existing businesses, and generate high-paying jobs for our people."
So far, no other Democrats have announced their candidacy for the governorship. Four Republicans have thrown their hats into the ring: Jeb Bush, son of former President Bush; state Sen. Ander Crenshaw; Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith; and Tallahassee trial attorney Ken Connor, an anti-abortion activist.
