Democrat charged with slugging area GOP chief

Gainesville, FL -- Sep 19, 2004 -- David Philip McCally, 55, of Gainesville faces misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief charges after he was accused of hitting both committee chairman Travis Horn, 32, and a life-sized, cardboard cutout of President George Bush.

The incident occurred at the Republican headquarters in downtown Gainesville at about 7:30 p.m.

McCally went into the office at 1212 N. Main St. and hit the face of the Bush cutout, a police report states. Afterward he argued outside with Horn, police reported, then punched him in the face. Police said there was a fight and Horn struck McCally several times "but was not the primary aggressor and fought only in an attempt to escape from further conflict."

McCally was released on his own recognizance after his arrest and has been ordered not to have contact with Horn, court records show. As for hitting the cutout, McCally said, "I don't like old brother George."

McCally said he wants to see Horn charged for kicking him. McCally is a part-time instructor in social and behavioral sciences at Santa Fe Community College who started in January, confirmed college spokesman Larry Keen. He will be "removed" from the classroom pending an administrative review on Monday, he said.

Records at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office confirmed McCally's political party.

Reached Friday, Horn said, "I enjoy thoughtful debate with my counterparts on the left. I think this is what makes this country great, but when you cross the line with physical violence, it's absurd."

Police happened to be pulling into the area at the time, Horn said. A police report states officers saw McCally throw what they later learned was the first punch.

Despite the possibility of his termination, McCally said he didn’t especially regret his actions.

"Most of me does, but some of me doesn’t," he said. "It was just one of those spur-of-the-moment things."

- posted by MrSpkr @ 10:30