Divergent commission foes may end up close

Conventional wisdom says that John Morroni will tramp Dave Buby in the race for District 6 on the Pinellas County Commission.

After all, Morroni beat Buby before, in 2000. Now he has the experience and name recognition that come with holding the seat. He has raised buckets more money -- at last count, $87,000 to Buby's $19,000 -- and has a slew of public officials backing him, including two fellow county commissioners and, he says, 23 commissioners from various cities.

But political analysts on opposite sides of the race say the contest could be tighter than expected.

"It's gotten pretty interesting," said Clearwater lawyer Ed Armstrong, a Republican power broker who's backing Morroni. "I think it's going to be a very, very, very close race."

Political consultant Mary Repper, who's supporting Buby, has come to a similar conclusion.

"I think John Morroni is in trouble," she said. "Buby came close before, and things have only gotten worse for John."

Where the analysts differ is on why the campaign is heating up. Armstrong said Morroni's done a good job, but he's been hurt by long-standing tensions between county government and cities in his district over annexation and other issues. "His heart's really in the right place, and he really responds to his constituents," Armstrong said of Morroni.

Repper has a different explanation: Morroni is in trouble because "he's been the weakest commissioner on the board."

District 6 encompasses northeast St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park, then runs through Seminole and down along the south beaches. It has been a flashpoint for debates over annexation and which services county and city governments should provide. Beach leaders also have clashed with county officials a few times over how to beautify Gulf Boulevard.

One sign of the rift: a handful of current and former public officials are backing Buby, even if it means crossing party lines. Pinellas Park City Council member Rick Butler has endorsed Buby, as has Ramona Updegraff, the former Redington Beach mayor. Updegraff lost to Morroni in the 2000 Republican primary.

Repper said Morroni was trolling for votes when he voted against increasing the county's property tax rate outside the cities -- even though he supports the service improvements the hike would pay for.

"John wants to be bulletproof," Repper said. "I think it's more important to him to be bulletproof than to provide leadership.'"

Repper argues that other commissioners have taken on big issues, such as Karen Seel's push to fix U.S. 19, or Ken Welch's campaigns to improve county technology and welfare policies, in a way that Morroni has not.

But Morroni has worked hard on the county's transportation planning board and is devoted to helping his constituents, countered Commission Chairman Barbara Sheen Todd.

Commissioner Karen Seel also supports Morroni. Other commissioners said they're staying out of the contest.

Armstrong said he didn't like hearing that Buby had passed out campaign literature at a Tampa Bay Water Board meeting to district residents who were opposed to building a brackish water treatment plant. That's playing politics, Armstrong argued, while Morroni looks at such issues from a regional perspective.

"I would hate to see a step back into parochialism," Armstrong said.

Buby responded that environmental concerns about the plant haven't been studied enough, and that contaminated water is an issue the entire county should care about.

Morroni acknowledged he hasn't been as vocal as some board members. But he said he wanted to "listen and learn" in his first two years. He was recently elected president of the Gateway Chamber of Commerce and will focus on business and economic development if he's re-elected, Morroni said.

Armstrong said Morroni's biggest problem is that he has gotten caught between warring factions.

"The acrimony between the county government and some of those local governments make it more difficult for John," he said.

Not everybody agrees the race will be tight. Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst gives the edge to Morroni.

"He has good name recognition, he's been around forever and he connects well with people," Aungst said.

Todd concurs.

"I think he'll win by a good margin," she said.

The two men have different priorities for the job. Retired doctor Buby stressed the need for improving health care for the uninsured and increasing the county's funds for social action projects.

Morroni, a former state legislator, says economic development and fixing the county's travel woes are top priorities.

And Morroni is proud of his vote against the county tax hike. He also pointed out that he voted in favor of the county taking ownership of Tropicana Field, even though he knew many residents outside the city opposed it.

Both men have been going to civic groups and knocking on doors in the district.

Buby said he's campaigning hard in neighborhoods that he neglected two years ago.

"I'm walking like crazy," Buby said. "With the Republican support I have this time, I'm probably going to get it."

Still, even Buby concedes that Morroni's deep pockets help.

"He's got his picture smiling down from a lot of billboards," Buby said.

Morroni said he has more cash for a reason.

"My opponent hasn't been able to raise funds because he doesn't have support," he said.

Will the cash make a difference? In September's primary election, incumbent school board member Max Gessner raised a record amount, more than $60,000 to opponent Mary Russell's $6,000. But Gessner lost to Russell, a literacy teacher who painted him as the establishment choice.

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