Sixty seconds with Jack McKeon

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, April 2, 2004

 

Joe Capozzi sat down for a one-minute interview with Jack McKeon to discuss his visit to the state capital:

 

JC: How was your visit to Tallahassee?

 

JM: It was great. I had the floor (in the House of Representatives) for a while. I said, "Mr. Speaker of the House, I am prepared to represent the senior citizens of Florida. I want to make a proposal to you guys to repeal the anti-smoking law in Florida."

 

JC: They laugh?

 

JM: Oh, yeah. I said, "I think that any senior citizen over 65 ought to be able to smoke anywhere in this state." Then I said, "And furthermore, I have another proposition. I think something ought to be done to repeal the state fuel tax." I didn't know it but they were actually debating the thing. I figured I'd better get off the podium.

 

JC: You didn't introduce a stadium bill?

 

JM: No. If I would have done that, it would have looked like I came up there for one purpose. I don't know enough about it. Let Sparky (David Samson) handle that.

 

JC: Did the Senate treat you well?

 

JM: They just recognized us. We just waved at them.

 

JC: Any representative ask for your autograph?

 

JM: Everybody but their Aunt Katie. It was more like an autograph session.

 

JC: Did you feel like Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?

 

JM: We had some fun. I figure we'll be indoors, so I bring two cigars. I smoked one before we got on the plane and I left that in one of the flower plants at the West Palm Beach airport. I never did pick it up. I'll probably go back and get it.

 

So now you're up in Tallahassee. I had one left. I smoked it. Got a two-hour wait. I was dying for another cigar. Me and Admin (Beinfest) took a walk. We walked all around town. We can't find a place to get a cigar. Now we go back. All of a sudden, some guy comes over: "Hey, congratulations. Here's my card." He's a lobbyist, a vice president for the Cigar Association of America.

 

I said, "We're dying for a cigar!" He says, "I'll be right back." He comes back down with four good ones. I mean, this guy came out of the blue.

 

joe_capozzi@pbpost.com

 

Mckeon is the man. :hat

He sure is...

So what do you think it'll take to keep McKeon as Manager for another year after this season?

JM: No. If I would have done that, it would have looked like I came up there for one purpose. I don't know enough about it. Let Sparky (David Samson) handle that.

 

Sparky, HA!