The people who say you can’t take principled stands and make a difference in public service never met Florida Governor Reubin Askew.
He ended the culture of corruption at the time in Florida government, he modernized our judiciary and state government, grew our economy, provided tax relief to Floridians, and restored public trust.
He courageously and successfully led our state to forever abandon the moral tragedy of racial segregation and embrace a diverse Florida that offered opportunity and hope to everyone. He appointed our first black state Supreme Court justice and state agency head.
Governor Askew also championed laws which required that government records and meetings be accessible to citizens and public officials and candidates would need to disclose their finances (FSU Askew School of Public Administration, 2024).
He loved Florida and wanted it to be a model for the nation. Today, we are a highly diverse state with the 15th largest economy in the world. We continuously attract new residents, visitors, capital, and companies. Florida continues to excel on numerous major metrics which other states seek to replicate. Governor Askew would be pleased to see all this success.
When everything showed he would win the White House in 1976, he declined to run simply stating, “I promised the people of Florida that if re-elected, I would finish the second term they gave me.” He kept his word.
I had a chance to meet him in 1994 and he was a warm, gracious, kind, and compassionate man. His character shined so brightly in how he treated others.
His reputation for unshakable integrity did not always make him popular with some in Tallahassee but it made him one of our state’s greatest Governors. So, the next time someone tells you that you can’t stay true to what you believe and make a real difference in government, just tell them about one of my personal heroes Reubin Askew.
#LeadershipLessonswithDrSaviak
