Kyc: District 55 State House

Longtime friendly competitors, state Rep. Frank Peterman Jr., the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Vincent Hopkins take the battle to a new setting.

By CANDACE RONDEAUX, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 31, 2002

The rivalry between the Democratic and Republican candidates for the District 55 House seat began on a high school football field.

Democratic incumbent state Rep. Frank Peterman Jr. first butted heads with Republican challenger Vincent Hopkins when the two were quarterbacks on opposing teams. Peterman played for Lakewood High School and Hopkins played for Boca Ciega High School.

But now that the two 40-year-old St. Petersburg natives are facing off in the political arena, the differences between them are much more serious.

"It's always been a friendly kind of rivalry, but when you come to issues like this, the stakes are much higher. This is for all the marbles," Peterman said.

The marbles in this district include southern St. Petersburg and portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The issues include a push for economic improvement in minority communities, educational reforms such as reducing class size and drawing new school board districts and voting rights for convicted felons.

Peterman supports the class size amendment on the ballot calling for fewer students per classroom. He points out that his recent term as state representative and his experience as a St. Petersburg City Council member stand in stark contrast to political newcomer Hopkins' background.

Hopkins counters that his work as the St. Petersburg Area Black Chamber of Commerce's executive director helped him forge key links in a large swath of District 55. He is especially critical of politically established African-Americans like Peterman and Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, accusing them of not working hard enough to secure projects for minority contractors in the area.

"I'm very disappointed in Ken Welch. Last year the county spent $50-million on building projects and there was not a single minority contractor," Hopkins said.

Although Hopkins is a Republican, he supports affirmative action programs and setting aside portions of construction contracts for minority firms. However, he also supports the Bush administration's One Florida plan, which eliminated racial preferences in university admissions and state contracts. He is vehemently opposed to an American invasion of Iraq.

Hopkins was arrested in 1988 on misdemeanor charges of battery, trespassing and making harassing phone calls in connection with a girlfriend in Tampa. The charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial intervention program.

Records show that Hopkins' driver's license was suspended from April 30 to May 21 this year. Hopkins said this was because he owed child support, which has since been paid.

A Libertarian candidate, Thomas Kilmon, is also running. Kilmon says he is a "trademark candidate." He does not expect to win and said his run is part of the Libertarian Party's effort to raise its profile on the ballot this election year.

"We felt this was a good way to get our name out there. We're the third largest party in the United States," Kilmon said.

Kilmon filed for bankruptcy in 1988. He pleaded no contest to driving under the influence in a September 1999 incident and to disorderly intoxication from a January 2000 case. Kilmon said the arrests happened while he was going through a bad breakup.

THE JOB

State House District 55 includes southern St. Petersburg and portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties. State representatives serve two-year terms and earn $29,398 per year.

REPUBLICAN

Hopkins

VINCENT K. HOPKINS, 40, is a St. Petersburg native and graduated from Boca Ciega High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Howard University. He owns a staffing agency. He was the founder and executive director of the St. Petersburg Area Black Chamber of Commerce. He is a coach for Lakewood Junior Spartans Flyweight Little League Football. He is a member of Pinellas Community Church. He is married and has four children. ASSETS: stocks and bonds LIABILITIES: student loans SOURCE OF INCOME: salary

DEMOCRAT

Peterman

FRANK PETERMAN JR., 40, a St. Petersburg native, graduated from Lakewood High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Morehouse College. He served as a member of the St. Petersburg City Council for nearly 31/2 years. He is director of development for the Juvenile Services Program of St. Petersburg. He was recently ordained and serves as an associate minister of Bethel Community Baptist Church. He is a member of the St. Petersburg Alumni chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He is married and has three children.ASSETS: house, car LIABILITIES: mortgage SOURCE OF INCOME: salary

LIBERTARIAN

THOMAS KILMON, 52, is a resident of St. Petersburg. He is enrolled full time at the University of South Florida and is working toward a master's degree in instructional technology. He has been a registered Libertarian for 10 years and a dues-paying member of the Libertarian Party for more than two years. ASSETS: contents of apartment LIABILITIES: student loans SOURCE OF INCOME: student financial aid