FLORIDA TODAY- EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

How do you raise a political body from the dead? Ask Amy Tidd, because she's trying to perform the miracle.

Tidd is the chairwoman of the Brevard County Democratic Party's executive committee, which makes her the go-to person in its drive to give voters in 2008 something they haven't had in years: A slate of qualified candidates to challenge Space Coast Republicans, who have a monopoly on power and the money and organization to steamroll any opponent who crosses their path. That's why there have been so few Democratic candidates on the ballot in recent years. Anyone considering a run knows it's probably a suicide mission, so they beg off.

But Tidd, an energetic Navy veteran who cut her political teeth as a community activist fighting uncontrolled growth and urging environmental protection, sees an opening next year and believes things could be different. She says local Democrats are energized by the war in Iraq and the GOP-controlled Legislature in Tallahassee that sold out residents to the insurance industry on hurricane protection. She believes many independents are also fed up, which could draw just enough to the Democratic fold and allow a few Brevard Democrats to gain office.

"We're not the 'Boringcrats' anymore," says Tidd, adding local party members are doing the grassroots legwork to build an organization that has been all but extinct. "We want to give people a choice and get them (candidates) who can be financed at least half-equally" against Republicans. "People are ready for a change."

Where will Tidd & Co. pick their shots? She says three Brevard GOP seats in the Florida House are potential targets. Two incumbents will be term-limited out -- Reps. Bob Allen and Mitch Needelman -- and Rep. Thad Altman's seat also could be vulnerable. On the County Commission, they're eyeing the post to be vacated by Republican Truman Scarborough of Titusville. And, hope against all Democratic hope, an upset that would kick their archenemy, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, out of Washington.

Despite Tidd's optimism, this climb is like scaling Mount Everest -- without oxygen. The numbers are bad -- there are about 116,400 local Democrats versus 143,600 Republicans in Brevard. The GOP fund-raising machine also cranks out cash like a printing press, thanks to the deep pockets of businesses, developers and a cultivated list of individual donors. If that's not difficult enough, the state House districts, which include parts of Central Florida counties outside Brevard, are drawn to ensure that GOP voters dominate. Still, give Tidd credit for steering her ship like she once steered the aircraft carrier USS Lexington -- in a clear direction, if against heavy seas.

Brevard voters need more choices from a ballot that includes Democrats and third-party candidates, and the strong debate and holding incumbents accountable that goes with it. If Tidd can even partially raise this Lazarus from the dead, that might happen.

Glisch is FLORIDA TODAY's editorial page editor. Contact him at (321) 242-3968 or jglisch@floridatoday.com.