Selected Leaders to Reflect the Face of Florida

Governor Chiles and Lt. Governor MacKay campaigned on a commitment to select and appoint citizens who reflected the face of Florida to the more than 875 state boards and agencies. Chiles/MacKay rejected the arguments of the past — that there simply weren't enough women and minorities to fill key posts and dramatically changed the state's leadership makeup.

The Chiles/MacKay administration doubled the number of African Americans appointed to boards and commissions and dramatically increased the number of African Americans in senior and middle management. In addition Chiles/MacKay increased the percentage of women appointed to key posts by 50 percent. During their two terms, they appointed more white females and more African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Pacific Islanders to serve Florida than any previous administrations.

Governor Chiles and Lt. Governor MacKay also ensured that minority businesses could compete for contracts on a level playing field. During the Chiles/MacKay years, spending with minority business enterprises grew from only $1.2 million in 1990 to more than $80 million in 1998. State contracts with Disadvantaged Business Enterprises increased by more than $31 million over the same eight years.

Made Florida Accessible to All

Chiles/MacKay focused on ensuring Florida is accessible to all of its residents — including those with disabilities. The administration worked with the Legislature to bring Florida's Accessible Code for Building Construction into compliance with federal law, making Florida one of only four states with this certification. Governor Chiles also established the 29-member Florida Coordinating Council on the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Working Group to assist in Florida's compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The administration's greatest success in this area was making possible the full, gainful and meaningful employment of those with disabilities. In 1997, the Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Disabled Citizens employed Able Trust to further its goal of advancing employment opportunities for those with disabilities.