The longtime congressman's son, state Rep. Gus Bilirakis, has said he will seek his father's seat in the 2006 election.
By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published February 25, 2004
PALM HARBOR - U.S. Rep. Mike Bilirakis, who was first elected to Congress during President Reagan's first term, apparently plans to make 2004 his last election.
The son of the Tarpon Springs Republican, state Rep. Gus Bilirakis, said he plans to run for Congress in his father's district in 2006. That signals that Mike Bilirakis, who was first elected to Congress in 1982, does not plan to run again after the 2004 election.
"It's safe to say that you won't see Bilirakis vs. Bilirakis in 2006," Christy Stefadouros, a spokeswoman for the congressman, said this week.
Mike Bilirakis, 73, was unavailable for comment. Gus Bilirakis, 41, said he did not want to make an official announcement on his father's behalf.
"It's his decision but I think at that point, 2006, he would be ready to retire and work on other things," he said.
Mike Bilirakis' retirement likely would trigger a chain reaction as candidates maneuver for his open congressional seat and his son's open legislative seat. It would be the first race for an open congressional seat that includes a significant part of Pinellas County since Mike Bilirakis won his first race.
The 9th District also was redrawn in 2002 and pushed further north and east. Pinellas accounts for just one-third of the district's residents now, and candidates with significant support in Pasco or Hillsborough counties could mount strong campaigns.
Gus Bilirakis likely would face a competitive Republican primary fight to succeed his father. His state legislative district is based in Pinellas, reaches just across the county line into Pasco, and does not include any of Hillsborough.
"We love Gus," said former state Sen. Jack Latvala of Palm Harbor. "But a lot of people think that a congressional seat is not just a mantle that you pass on to your son."
Latvala, who has considered running for Congress in the past, said he's not ready to make any decisions.
Another possible candidate could be Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd. The Plant City Republican has raised $1.6-million for his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. Despite speculation that Byrd might drop out of the Senate race and run for Mike Bilirakis' seat, Byrd's aides say he is not interested.
University of South Florida professor of government Darryl Paulson said name recognition and a family fundraising network will make Gus Bilirakis the front-runner in 2006.
"If in a short period of time (Gus Bilirakis) can raise anywhere near $200,000 to $400,000, that's going to scare a lot of folks away," Paulson said.
Over more than two decades, Mike Bilirakis rarely has faced a serious challenge in the 9th District. He is chairman of a House subcommittee on health and vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Gus Bilirakis was first elected to the Legislature in 1998. He and his father have worked closely on a number of issues. They have been strong advocates for federal oversight of the cleanup at the defunct Stauffer Chemical Co. phosphate plant in Tarpon Springs. Last year, the pair also coordinated efforts to set limits on the state's plan to dump millions of gallons of toxic wastewater into the Gulf of Mexico from the Piney Point phosphate plant.
"We've always done things as a team," Gus Bilirakis said. "I've worked on the campaigns. We're a real close-knit family."
He said he has developed his political skills in the Legislature.
"He is his own man, and he has served his constituents well," said Pinellas County Republican Party chairman Paul Bedinghaus. "The name opens some doors. The name gives you power, but you've got to make yourself worthy to have staying power. Gus has done that."
Bedinghaus said Gus Bilirakis demonstrated his willingness to act independently by voting against one of the largest phone rate increases in state history, which was supported by Republican leaders.
"It's not a lightweight thing to tell the leadership that I'm not with you on this one," Bedinghaus said.
- Times staff writers Curtis Krueger and Adam Smith contributed to this report. Candace Rondeaux can be reached at (727) 771-4307.
