As the current past chairman of the Pinellas County Democratic Party, I would like to clarify several points in this story. The implication that the county party is unaware of the candidates running, not supportive of Democrats who are running for countywide office, and unorganized as a party, especially as my watch as party chairman is ending, requires immediate clarification.
There are 200,000-plus Democrats in Pinellas County and it is not possible to know everyone with a desire to seek elected office. Because I did not know the names of the candidates it is not for lack of trying. There will be people who are led to run without the county party knowing about it first. Anyone who qualifies can run for any office. Democrats embrace this truly American ideal with a passion. It is okay not to know the names of surprise candidates. Your story did not reflect that context in my quote.
The story implies a lack of recruitment. Under my watch, potential Pinellas County Democratic candidates who wanted to run this cycle got the good news, bad news and the realities of running for office from one county official answering questions independently or many of the party officials talking together. Some races we are more optimistic about, and outstanding candidates have stood to be counted. The Pinellas County Democratic Party is doing what we legally are able to do to help them as we reorganize our party infrastructure. Not everyone runs. We don't lie to candidates and we don't pull punches. Personally, I will never knowingly set up someone for failure just to fill a slot or appease the local daily paper. Therefore some races go uncontested, and in some cases I did no recruitment at all. It is sound long-term politics to go for what we have a chance of winning and allocate the limited resources accordingly. This fact is not evident from the story.
The organizational comparison with the main opposition party needs addressing, too. Under my predecessors as well as under my recently concluded chairmanship, the Pinellas County Democratic Party continues to organize and grow again from the grass roots on up. It is working. It is true I made significant operational and personnel changes to the party before I gave up the party chair position to run for Florida House Seat 45. Yes, we still have a long way to go to be a powerful force in Pinellas again, but all of us active in the county party are motivated and goal-focused. We are working very hard every day moving the county party forward to win races locally, statewide and nationally.
Naturally, we did not broadcast our endeavors to the media, but it was no secret. If a Times reporter or anyone else had been to one of the many monthly Democratic meetings in the past six months and asked a few questions he would have found out that we have not been asleep at the wheel. The Times needs to get back into the loop of information. Your words have done more harm than good, again.
-- Kevin Jensen, past Pinellas Democratic Party Executive Committee chairman, Clearwater
At least they're giving candidacy a try
Re: It's no party for three Democrats.
Thank you for Mike Sandler's thorough and insightful article. Three long shots - Maria Scruggs-Weston, Joseph Smolen and Earl McGinley - have thrown their respective hats into the ring. The great news is these new candidates have the guts to try. Please excuse Kevin Jensen for not knowing much about them. They came out after he resigned to launch his own campaign.
Yes, the odds are against them. My motto is "You can't win if you don't try." So try they must, and try they will. More candidates are trying than ever before, and there is no teacher like experience. Some will win. Hopefully, those who lose will bring back their experience to share with the rest of us. We need that experience (and courage) brought back to us!
Sandler tactfully mentions our dearth of volunteers. As a precinct captain, I can tell you there is one of me and about 800 Democratic voters in my precinct. Some precincts don't even have captains. I am not fazed, and I remain undaunted. To earn the respect of the St. Petersburg Times and other objective observers, we must recruit and train an army of volunteers. We can. We will. And we will restore this county as a Democratic stronghold.
Potential voters and voters of any party can get contact information from the supervisor of elections.
-- Mike Reichold, Largo
Competitive options are blossoming
Re: Higher phone bills, editorial, June 11.
The notion that local phone bills will get higher and "probably a lot higher" if the telecom rules change is untrue. All voice services - wireless and wireline - are becoming part of the same intensive competitive market. That market is characterized by aggressively priced packages that are advertised coast to coast.
Indeed, the recent announcement that Brighthouse Networks will be providing residential phone service in Pinellas County, along with AT&T's new voice over Internet protocol offering, demonstrates that the right public policy at both the retail and the wholesale level will enhance competitive options, just as the economists predicted during their testimony before the Florida Public Service Commission late last year.
And the correct policies will also lead to new investment and economic growth, as companies like Brighthouse, AT&T, Verizon and others upgrade their own networks to bring new and innovative services to consumers.
The government was right to let market-based competition prevail in the wireless business, encouraging investment, innovation and competition. That's exactly what's needed in the landline market to spark the deployment of new technologies like broadband. When government lets competition work, consumers win.
-- Alan Ciamporcero, president, Public Policy and External Affairs, Southeast Region, Verizon, Tampa
A most effective government leader
Re: Ex-city manager Lynn H. Andrews, 90, dies, June 11.
Lynn Andrews could make a decision and make things happen. He was a man of action and true to his word. In 1967, Gov. Claude Kirk appointed me to the Florida Road Board. I-275 was in the design stages from the Howard Frankland Bridge to the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I was continually asked about the status of the engineering design, so I would ask the professionals for a report. Everyone had a different answer. I decided to call for monthly meetings with the Florida Department of Transportation, the three engineering consultants and the Federal Highway Administration.
My first call was to Mr. Andrews, city manger for St. Petersburg. He had a reputation for getting to the bottom of a problem. I knew he would bring a business approach to the meetings and he did. We met for 22 consecutive months for about eight hours each meeting. At the end of every meeting Mr. Andrews summarized the day's proceedings and made sure those attending knew their assignments for the next meeting. The monthly meetings keep the highway design work on schedule. The Legislature abolished the Road Board in 1969 and the meetings were discontinued by FDOT. Unfortunately design work on the south section of I-275 slowed.
As a result of these meetings, Mr. Andrews, working with congressman Bill Cramer, persuaded the Federal Highway Administration to build I-175 & I-375. They were responsible for the concept and full funding from Congress.
Mr. Andrews was a great listener, short on words and the most effective government leader I have had the opportunity to work with and know.
-- Donald R. Crane Jr., St. Petersburg
Drug card answers for seniors
Re: Medicare drug card.
Florida's more than 2.9-million Medicare recipients are currently in the process of making an important decision about the new Medicare Drug Card that can save them up to $600 on their medications. The card is optional, and I encourage Floridians to learn more about it from a free educational service called SHINE.
SHINE stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders and is a statewide service through the Department of Elder Affairs. SHINE counselors, who are all volunteers, have provided Medicare information since 1993, and last year served almost 100,000 people. In addition to answering questions about Medicare, more than 200 SHINE counselors are also trained to inform seniors about free and discounted prescription drug programs and eligibility requirements.
To speak to a SHINE counselor, just call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). SHINE volunteers provide information about Medicare as well as a Florida program called Sunshine for Seniors - which helps people on Medicare receive free or low-cost prescription drugs through the assistance programs of pharmaceutical companies.
Through these programs, we are helping older Floridians access prescription drugs.
-- Terry White, Secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Tallahassee
Serving his constituents
Re: Senate race opponents attack Deutsch's ties to drugmakers, June 11.
I was very interested reading the article about the attack on U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch by his opponents for his "ties to drug companies." It is interesting that the attack was made because of congressman Deutsch's efforts on behalf of a generic drug manufacturer trying to get a generic drug for Prilosec accepted by the FDA. Those of us who practice medicine and specifically gastroenterology know that the cost of the nongeneric Prilosec and other medications in that class are prohibitively expensive for our patients both with and without Medicare. It also should be noted that the drug manufacturer mentioned is a constituent of congressman Deutsch and rightly asked for help from its congressman.
Congressman Deutsch's support of what is right for his constituents is his mantra. He has been instrumental in assisting us in getting legislation passed to mandate colon cancer screening for the Medicare population. His receiving support from the people he represents is appropriate as long as it is in the best interests of his constituents. I would hope that his opponents would do the same thing if they are elected to the Senate. Of course, we do not know that, since only congressman Deutsch has a 22 year record that is open to public scrutiny.
-- Peter M. Pardoll, M.D., Treasure Island
A vital center of learning takes shape
The best-kept secret is out, thanks to the June 15 article A driving desire to learn. Downtown St. Petersburg is on the way to becoming a vital center of learning.
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus is within walking distance of major museum and research facilities, the Mahaffey Theater, downtown shopping and even Albert Whitted airport. With a superbly qualified faculty (who are caring and dynamic teachers as well as productive scholars), a skilled administration, an intergenerational and multicultural student body, an excellent library with a helpful support staff, distinguished graduate and undergraduate programs, and a location that is one of the most picturesque in the region, it is no wonder that our campus is a jewel in the USF crown.
In the years ahead we shall see a growing university community that will have a major positive impact upon the cultural and economic life of St. Petersburg.
-- Merle F. Allshouse, St. Petersburg
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