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Election 2004

Is candidate trying to hide his gender?

Jan Govan's opponent, Judge George Greer, says Mr. Govan is trying to use his first name to trick women into voting for him.

By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE
Published July 15, 2004

Govan

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ST. PETERSBURG - First, let there be no doubt: Jan Govan is a man.

But Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer, whom Govan is challenging in the Aug. 31 election, wonders whether Govan is trying to pull a fast one.

Is Jan trying to fool voters into thinking he's a she to gain a political edge?

"I believe I respect the voters more than my opponent does," Greer said Wednesday. "For some reason, it does not appear that he wants them to know he's a man."

The problem, Greer said, is that Govan's first name might confuse some voters. And Govan's advertisements and campaign Web site don't show his picture or have any helpful he's or hims to clarify the candidate's gender, the judge said.

Govan said he isn't hiding anything, joking, "Maybe I should challenge him to an arm-wrestling match."

Greer said Govan's ad in a recent issue of Tampa Bay-based Women's News was the clincher. It urges people to vote for Govan "because women have choices, too!"

Govan said the ad is a simple pitch to a publication's very specific audience. Greer said he sees it as proof Govan is trying to hide his gender.

The prevailing political wisdom in the Tampa Bay area is that female judicial candidates get a boost at the polls, presumably from female voters.

In 2000, Hillsborough Circuit Court candidate Leland Baldwin legally changed her name, adding the middle name Anne to avert confusion over her gender. She said: "Why should I be penalized because I have an androgynous name?"

It didn't matter. Baldwin lost.

Also in Hillsborough, Joelle Ober lost one campaign for a judgeship in 1994. Thinking voters were confused by her first name, she appeared on the ballot as Ann Ober in a 1996 race for a County Court seat. She won.

Jack Latvala, a former state senator from Palm Harbor who now works as a political consultant, said he knows of no study that has demonstrated a woman had the advantage at the polls in nonpartisan judicial campaigns.

But people believe it's true anyway, he said. "You talk about it so much, it becomes a fact," he said.

Latvala, who isn't working for Govan or Greer, said the lack of a picture in material promoting Govan makes him think he "probably doesn't want anyone to know what his gender is."

Govan chuckled at the notion he's trying to fool anyone. Govan said his name is beyond his control. "My name has been Jan Govan since birth," he said.

Govan noted his picture has appeared in the newspaper. And he said he volunteered to have it taken, unafraid to show the world he is a man.

Then, Govan jokingly challenged a reporter to some traditional manly activities.

"Do you want to get into a fist fight?" he asked. "Do you want to get into a seed-spitting contest?"

[Last modified July 15, 2004, 01:00:38]