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By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff WriterThe St. Petersburg City Council member said he will focus on holding onto his District 6 seat.
ST. PETERSBURG - Earnest Williams said he has dropped plans to run for the Legislature in 2006 and will instead focus on the City Council.
"I'm running for City Council," Williams said. "I'm not a candidate for legislative District 55."
Williams has served as the council member from District 6 for the past five years. Four people are challenging him this November: Dwight "Chimurenga" Waller, president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement; Darden Rice, a community organizer for the Sierra Club; Cassandra Jackson, a former board member for the Pinellas County Housing Authority; and Maria Scruggs-Weston, a community activist.
District 6 includes part of downtown, Midtown and the Lake Maggiore area.
Williams, 58, created controversy in June when he announced his plan to run for state Legislature in 2006 at an Orlando political conference. Williams said he would also run for re-election to the council, which meant he would serve less than a year before vacating his seat if re-elected.
Some constituents took offense, and a few challengers said it inspired them to enter the race.
Williams said he never officially launched a legislative campaign. But now he wants to concentrate on finishing some of the projects he has started on council.
"I think we have done some great things over the past four years," said Williams, who owns an insurance agency. "I'm proud of that record."
Williams said he's especially pleased with progress in Midtown. SunTrust recently announced plans to build a bank in the area and a new grocery store and full-service post office are already under construction.
Williams was appointed by the council in 2000 to fill the seat vacated by Frank Peterman, who dropped out to run for the Legislature. Williams was easily elected in 2001, defeating Waller with 78 percent of the vote.
Williams, who served as council chairman in 2003, is known for his no-nonsense, businesslike style. If re-elected, he said his top priorities would be creating affordable housing and bringing more jobs to Midtown.
Born in Marietta, Williams graduated from Florida State University with a degree in government. He is married and has two children.
Council members serve a four-year term and receive an annual salary of $24,758. A primary election will be Sept. 27 and the general election will be Nov. 8.
-- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 727 892-2273 or cjohnson@sptimes.com