Editor's Note: The following responses were received from candidates for Largo City Commission Seats 3 and 4 after the St. Petersburg Times recommended their opponents, Pat Gerard and Jean Halvorsen. The election is Tuesday.

Ernie Bach, Seat 4

The Times says Jean Halvorsen "was never the city's most active or most informed commissioner," that "age and infirmity have reduced Halvorsen's ability to perform all of the duties that residents have every right to expect of their commissioners." And then they recommend her?

The Times says "Ernie Bach has the energy and ability to perform a wider range of duties," Bach as a commissioner from 1987-90 "carried out most of his duties adequately," "Bach has shown up around the state to make speeches before various decisionmaking bodies (the Florida Senate and House, Indiana Senate, Washington state Senate and the U.S. House), sometimes (always on behalf of citizens) on his own dime" (that's right!).

Have I stirred the pot? Absolutely! Controversial? Only to those in power who weren't responsive to citizens and afraid of public knowledge. Why no mention of my six years producing election debates, including candidates for Congress and governor? Thousands of my hours and my dollars without one penny of compensation. Is that self-promotion or community service?

Why no mention of Ernie as the sole senior advocate to win generic drug legislation, an advocate who saved you a $170-million electric-rate increase, an advocate against higher gas prices, an advocate who kept the dirty fuel Orimulsion out of Florida, an advocate in D.C. to protect Social Security and Medicare, an advocate who worked with state legislators to get good legislation passed, who knows the right lobbyists for Largo's needs, who wants a larger utilitarian library but not a Taj Mahal, who doesn't want Largo in debt with higher property taxes?

The Times asks, "Has Bach changed?" and then answers, "We don't know." But they denigrate a 20-year documented and positive record of listening to and representing Largo citizens by assuming something might happen in the future that will cause damage. The Times, distortion and unfounded innuendo. Go to your computer and study www.erniebach.com for the truth, and you decide who has the energy, knowledge and experience to best represent you. Vote for Ernie Bach for Seat 4, your voice and the common sense choice.
--

Tom Robbins, Seat 3

Once again the St. Petersburg Times did not check out all its sources and report accurately. In endorsing my opponent, they stated she has volunteered for many organizations seeking to improve the quality of life in and around Largo and that I couldn't come close to matching that record. Now let me tell you the true facts.

I served on the Healthcare Administration Advisory Board for St. Petersburg College. I served on the Nursing Assistant Advisory Board at PTEC. I co-founded and chaired a charity event called the Month of the Homeless Child, which raised clothing and school supplies for homeless children for more than 13 years. I was on the All Children's Hospital Advisory Council. I was appointed by County Commissioner John Morroni to the Suncoast Health Council. I served on the School Advisory Committee at Fuguitt Elementary School for five years and chaired that committee for two of those years. I was a member of the Downtown St. Petersburg Rotary Club for seven years. I was a Church Council member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd for four years and remain very active to this day.

Why do I tell you all this? Because I have always been extremely proud of my record of serving and volunteering for this community and for someone like the St. Petersburg Times (a newspaper that specializes in sensationalism and half truths) to question my commitment is totally unacceptable. They also made the comment that I have seldom attended City Commission meetings. Wrong again. I have been at just about every commission meeting and workshop for the past four months until just recently when I was out meeting the public.

When I am elected, I will bring a strong business and financial background to the commission -- which is very seriously lacking now -- and I will work very hard to make Largo more business-friendly to help encourage our further redevelopment. But most important, I will listen to what the people who elected me have to say; because when it comes right down to it, there is no one more important.

Times recommends
Largo voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose a mayor and two city commissioners. After conducting in-depth interviews with the candidates, examining their backgrounds and studying the issues, the Times made the following editorial recommendations:
For mayor: Bob Jackson
For Seat 3: Pat Gerard
For Seat 4: Jean Halvorsen

Back to North Pinellas news

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

Special Links

Mary Jo Melone

Howard Troxler

From the Times
North Pinellas desks