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One candidate proud of pride festival visit

By Times Staff
Published June 29, 2005

Few candidates opted to take advantage of the thousands of voters gathered in St. Petersburg on Saturday for the St. Pete Pridefestival, but Scott Farrell, a Democratic attorney running for Jim Davis' congressional seat, said he wouldn't have missed it.

"It happened in the district, and I think it was important to be there," said Farrell, the only candidate in the race who set up a campaign booth. The Democratic primary to succeed Davis includes Farrell, Les Miller, Michael Steinberg, and Kathy Castor - the only Hillsborough County commissioner who opposed Hillsborough halting any promotion or participation in gay pride activities.

"It was a really unfortunate step back when we should celebrate diversity, not denigrate it," Farrell said of the commission vote.

The Junkie staff called six more Pinellas candidates to get their reactions to the Hillsborough Commission decision, but five (Republicans Nancy Riley, Tom Anderson and Gus Bilirakis, along with Democrats Greg Rublee and Frank Peterman) did not return our call. One who did, Republican Ed Hooper, thought other issues were more important.

"I tend to be more worried about education and seniors and transportation issues," Hooper said. "They are a little higher on the radar screen rather than if Hillsborough supports or promotes gay rights."

DISTRICT SHOPPING:First he considered whether to run for state House District 52 or District 53. Ultimately, chiropractor Rod Jones opted for 52, the swing district being vacated by Republican Frank Farkas, rather than the overwhelmingly Democratic 53 being vacated by Democrat Charlie Justice.

But now, Jones has decided to stake out his political future in state House District 54, which Republican Everett Rice is vacating to run for attorney general. "It came down to where do I want to live and raise my family," said Jones, who will buy a home in the area soon.

He's likely to face a primary contest, though Redington Shores Mayor J.J. Beyrouti has decided against running. Other Republicans expected to jump into the District 54 race include real estate agent Michael Petruccelli of Indian Shores and former state Rep. Jim Frishe.

Jones' switch means the District 52 Republican primary will be less crowded and unpredictable. Republicans who have filed for the race include Angelo Cappelli and Ross Johnson, but "I wasn't intimidated by anybody," Jones said. The Democrat in that race is Liz McCallum.

ATTORNEY WEIGHING OPTIONS:A high-profile defense attorney who graduated from Clearwater High School may jump into the race to succeed Rep. Kim Berfield in the state House.

Kevin Hayslett said this week he is being courted to run for Berfield's District 50 seat, which covers parts of Clearwater, Safety Harbor and Feather Sound.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do," said Hayslett, a Republican, who was unaware people knew he was mulling over his political options.

Hayslett, who has an interest in public office, said friends have approached him, asking about a number of potential races.

But he's concerned about the likely strain on his three young sons, ages 11, 8 and 7.

A partner at the Clearwater law firm Carlson & Meissner, Hayslett has defended several well-known clients, including Buccaneers cornerback Dwight Smith and ex-Clearwater Mayor Rita Garvey. In 2002, Hayslett represented Bubba the Love Sponge when the radio shock jock was arrested after presiding over the on-air slaughter of a wild boar.

A former assistant state attorney, Hayslett actually lives in District 52, according to Pinellas County property records. That means that in order to run for Berfield's seat, he'd have to move about 2,000 feet north.

If he does, he'll join a pair of Republicans, Ed Hooper and Nancy Riley, who are already campaigning for the seat. Hayslett said his decision should come soon.

CAMPAIGN PREP:The elections are more than a year away but a handful of would-be legislators from Pinellas County were among those attending a business-sponsored campaign seminar in Orlando on Tuesday.

Three of the five candidates battling for the seat now held by Rep. Gus Bilirakis were picking up campaign tips from the experts. They are Carl Zimmerman, a Democrat, and Republicans Brian Flaherty and Peter F. Nehr.

Bruce Cotton, a Republican aide to Rep. Leslie Waters who is running for his boss' seat because she must leave office in 2006 because of term limits, was also there.

As were Nancy Riley, the Clearwater Republican seeking the seat now held by Kim Berfield, and Rod Jones, a Republican from St. Petersburg, who is one of four candidates running for the House seat that former Sheriff Everett Rice is leaving.

The daylong seminar included advice on direct mail, recruiting volunteers, dealing with the press, going door to door, fundraising and getting out the vote.

--Aaron Sharockman compiled this week's Political Junkie from Clearwater with contributions from Lucy Morgan in Orlando and Adam C. Smith in St. Petersburg. Contact the staff at politicaljunkie@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 29, 2005, 04:49:08]