Spelling bee could thin ranks of School Board hopefuls

Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are the three R's of education.

But one School Board candidate may need a little help with spellin'.

On her St. Petersburg Times candidate questionnaire, District 6 contender Melissa Hernandez misspelled several words.

Correspond became coorespond. Incumbent became encumbent. Sheriff became sherriff.

Hernandez, a substitute teacher and parent who is among the candidates challenging incumbent Carolyn Bricklemyer for the countywide seat, blamed a lack of computerized spell check and sleep deprivation brought on by intensive grass roots campaigning.

"I apologize for that," said Hernandez, 35. "I am a candidate for School Board. I'm not a candidate for national spelling bee winner. Spelling is important, but it's not as important as kids' having textbooks."

As a side note, Hernandez said it has been about 15 years since she completed an English class. But she is now midway through English Composition I at Florida Metropolitan University. "I'd be happy to take a spelling bee with the other candidates," she said. "If you want us there, I'll certainly be there."

Any takers?

District 4 Hillsborough Commission candidate Arlene Waldron is taking some risk with a recent letter seeking campaign contributions. In her missive, she compares herself to fellow Republican Dottie Berger MacKinnon, the former District 4 commissioner who was defeated four years ago by Tim Curtis, a relative unknown, when she ran for a countywide seat.

"I'm writing to you as someone who supports mainstream Republican candidates and former Commissioners such as Dottie Berger MacKinnon," Waldron wrote. "I share Dottie's values of strengthening our economy and her concern for our neighborhood, environment and transportation needs."

She said the commissioner she is trying to unseat, Ronda Storms, has been ineffective on those fronts.

Waldron said the letter was sent to past supporters of MacKinnon, who has held a fundraiser for her. While a few may have landed in the hands of people who didn't support the former commissioner, Waldron said she wasn't concerned about a possible backlash.

Don Ardell has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the Tampa mayor's race. He can't get any respect.

Ardell, a world-class runner, fitness guru and motivational speaker, sends out regular campaign position papers and press releases. But they almost never get reported by the media, including by this outfit.

It's a little hard to take Ardell seriously. He hasn't raised any money -- on purpose, he says, because the campaign season is too long. He has no political experience. Much of his platform centers on physical fitness and positive thinking. That sounds nice, but it doesn't get the garbage picked up on time.

Ardell complains that the Other Paper doesn't even count him among the candidates. It refers to the three major candidates, City Council member Bob Buckhorn, City Council Chairman Charlie Miranda and consultant Frank Sanchez.

CALENDAR: Hob Nob, the seasonal meet-and-greet session with candidates put on by the Hillsborough Association of Chambers of Commerce and the University of South Florida Alumni Association, is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on campus. . . . The Tampa Bay Tiger Bay Club will have candidates for the District 4 and 5 Hillsborough Commission seats for a noon lunch and debate Friday at the Wyndham Hotel on Harbour Island. Tickets are $18 for members and $25 for guests.

-- Staff writer Melanie Ave contributed to this report. Got a tip? Contact Bill Varian at (813) 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com, or David Karp at (813) 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright