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Gus Bilirakis inherits daddy's supporters

POLITICAL JUNKIE

By AARON SHAROCKMAN and ADAM C. SMITH
Published May 4, 2005

Everyone expected Gus Bilirakis to use his father's name to boost his run for Congress.

He's also using Dad's donor list.

Bilirakis, the only announced Republican seeking to replace his father Mike, already has raised $316,000 about 16 months before Election Day. He also has spent money, including $807 on his father's contributor list, according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

"Candidates everywhere find ways to get ahold of contributor lists," said Greg Rublee, who is running for the 9th District seat as a Democrat.

For Gus Bilirakis, it just came a lot easier.

A four-term state representative, the Palm Harbor lawyer already has a huge fundraising advantage on the potential political competition. Among his early contributors: Tampa Bay Devil Rays owner Vince Naimoli ($250), state Attorney General Charlie Crist ($500) and the Spanos family ($18,000), the principals in the NFL's San Diego Chargers. Both Naimoli and the Spanos family have given to Mike Bilirakis in the past.

By comparison, Rublee has raised just $300 through last month.

"This will be a competitive race," said Rublee, a former legislative liaison for the Defense Department. "The dollar amounts raised and spent will reflect that."

Rublee said he is preparing to launch his Web site, www.rubleeforcongress.com in the coming weeks, and said fundraising numbers will improve in future finance reports.

Bilirakis, who has been in the race for more than a year and announced his candidacy before his father said he wouldn't be running in 2006, already has a campaign Web site, www.gusbilirakis.com

On his state House Web page (which calls him Gus Michael Bilirakis), the District 48 Republican lists under history, "Michael Bilirakis, father, United States Congressman 1983-present."

St. Petersburg City Council member James Bennett has closed the door on the possibility of running to succeed Frank Peterman in the state House. More precisely, his wife closed it for him.

"I was really gearing up for the House seat, and then she had the come-to-Jesus talk with me," Bennett recounted with a chuckle. "She doesn't want me in Tallahassee. She wants me to stick around and run for mayor (in 2009)."

Peterman is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by Les Miller. No one has filed for the District 55 seat which covers much of southern St. Petersburg, but City Council member Earnest Williams is expected to jump in.

Meanwhile, it appears the mayoral race in 2009 might be crowded even if no politician wants to risk taking on Mayor Rick Baker this year. Among those seen as possible 2009 contenders: City Council members Bennett and Renee Flowers, as well as County Commissioner Ken Welch.

One big reason for the lack of challengers ready to take on Baker? Money. Baker said he has announced no fundraising goal, but several St. Petersburg politicos said he was capable of raising as much as $500,000.

He raised $226,000 in 2001, more than double what David Fischer had in his last re-election campaign.

Baker's fundraising starts in earnest in a couple of weeks as he formally kicks off his campaign, but with minimal effort, he had already raised more than $9,300 by the end of March. Checks came from the likes of St. Petersburg developer Craig Sher and John Galbraith, the Florida International Museum benefactor, retired mutual fund executive and former Baker client.

Chair of the Pinellas Democratic Executive Committee Carrie Wadlinger will talk to local members of the Democracy for America group at 7 tonight at the Globe Coffee Lounge on First Avenue N in St. Petersburg.

The title of the talk, according to the MeetUp.com group, is "Where we are going in Pinellas."

Wadlinger, 60, lost a bid last year to become the county's clerk of the circuit court to Republican Ken Burke. Previously she had helped with Janet Reno's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and Howard Dean's presidential run.

In December, she was elected without opposition to lead the local party.

Aaron Sharockman compiled this week's Political Junkie from Clearwater with contributions from Adam C. Smith in Tallahassee. Contact the staff at politicaljunkie@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 01:10:54]