Morgan hosts Corcoran fundraiser
A potential Democratic candidate for Florida governor is holding a fundraiser this week for a potential Republican candidate for the same office.
Orlando attorney John Morgan and his firm, Morgan & Morgan, will host a reception Thursday in Orlando for Republican state House Speaker Richard Corcoran and his newly formed Watchdog PAC.
Morgan, a Democrat, said the event at attorney Zander Clem’s home was being held in part to thank Corcoran for his support on Morgan’s most outspoken issue, medical marijuana.
Morgan had been the driving force behind the referendum approved by voters last year, and a bill outlining how medical marijuana regulations would work was passed Friday during the Legislature’s special session. Each license holder can open up to 25 dispensaries across the state.
“Richard is the one who compromised,” Morgan said in an email. “He wanted 100 dispensaries and Joe [Negron, the Senate President] wanted five per license. It ended up at 25. So you see who made it happen.”
Morgan said Corcoran “is a longtime friend. I have supported him from his first race forward.”
Both Morgan and Corcoran have said they are considering a run for governor in their respective parties in 2018. Morgan has said he is in no hurry to decide, and Corcoran said Monday he wouldn’t make a decision until after the 2018 legislative session.
When asked if it were awkward to be raising money for a potential
“It is not awkward,” Morgan said. “Politics in Florida doesn’t work because of ego and personalities. I like all of them. Politics works best when you are friends.”
“Plus, in P.E. I was so fast I used to give my schoolmates a 10-yard head start to make it competitive,” Morgan added. “Think of it that way. I have never been conventional, and I don’t plan to start now.”
Corcoran also said he didn’t think of it in terms of Democrats and Republicans.
“John is an old friend who shares the same values,” Corcoran said. “We’re trying to hold government accountable and make it more efficient, and we share that mission.”
Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at University of rival, Morgan disagreed. Central Florida, said such a prominent cross-party fundraising event “is definitely unusual. But then again, John Morgan’s political history has been pretty unusual as well. He’s always said he’s tried to have good relationships with Republicans and has helped Republicans in the past.”
“Of course, I could be overthinking the whole thing, and this could just be John Morgan being John Morgan,” Jewett said.
On the Democratic side, Winter Park businessman Chris King, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum have all announced runs for governor this year. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is running on the Republican side.