Citrus Slices

By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 28, 2002

Party mixups and the clowns

U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman picked up a most unexpected -- an unintentional -- endorsement last week.

During a political forum sponsored by the Citrus County Chronicle, one of Thurman's opponents, independent Brian Moore, inadvertently exhorted the crowd to "vote Democrat" on Nov. 5.

Everyone had a good laugh, especially Thurman, the Democratic candidate. Even Moore saw the humor in his slip. When he next approached the microphone, he was ready:

"My fellow Democrats . . ." Moore began, inspiring more laughter.

A SOBERING LOOK: Another independent candidate for Congress, Jack Gargan, spoke at the forum. He made his political name advocating term limits.

The U.S. House of Representatives doesn't have term limits. But Gargan, 72, said that doesn't mean he would stay in office too long.

"I'm at the age when God does the term limiting," Gargan said.

WE ALWAYS KNEW THERE WERE A LOT OF CLOWNS DRIVING THROUGH BEVERLY HILLS: Rarely is the description of a wanted subject so vivid: Dispatchers on Friday told Citrus County sheriff's deputies to be on the lookout for a reckless driver dressed like a clown in the vicinity of Beverly Hills.

Sure enough, a sharp-eyed deputy found a driver who fit the description and pulled him over. But there was a problem.

It was the wrong clown, said Lori Cronshaw, officer in charge at the county's Emergency Operations Center. The driver was sent on his way without a ticket.

-- Times staff writers Jim Ross and Carrie Johnson compiled this report.

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