Early voting in primaries gets slow start
By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published September 13, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Early voting in two City Council primary races began slowly Monday, with just seven people casting ballots.
Lori Hudson, deputy administrator with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office, said the low turnout wasn't surprising because there are no state or national races to attract voters.
But City Council member Earnest Williams, who is running for re-election in District 6, said he is afraid the poor showing reflects a lack of awareness among voters.
"There are people who don't even know that we have a primary coming up in two weeks," Williams said. "Somehow, we have to get the message out to them."
Early voting will continue for the next two weeks. The primary election is Sept. 27. The last primary election in 2003 drew just 15 percent of eligible voters.
While there are four contested City Council seats, only two drew more than two candidates and require primaries. Three people are competing for the District 4 seat; five people are facing off in District 6.
Only voters in the district can participate in the primary, while the two finalists move on to the citywide election Nov. 8.
Fundraising is heating up among the primary candidates, with several surpassing the $10,000 mark.
Council member Virginia Littrell, running for re-election in District 4, has raised the most of any candidate so far, with more than $11,000. That's more than the combined total of her two opponents; political newcomer Kim Trombley has $6,495 and former council member Leslie Curran reported $4,390. Both used some of their own money, with Trombley contributing $5,000 and Curran, $500.
Curran, who was a council member for eight years before she was forced out by term limits, said money doesn't necessarily translate into votes in a local election.
"I know exactly how much money I need and I know what it's going to cost," she said. "There's no reason to raise any more. That money would be better spent on contributions for victims of Hurricane Katrina."
Recent history supports Curran's theory. In 2003, candidate John McQueen raised more than $21,000 in his bid for the District 3 seat, far more than his two opponents. But he still finished third in the primary and failed to qualify for the citywide election.
But Williams said money is a factor, especially when many are unaware of the election. "You need visibility," Williams said. "In a race like this, you create that visibility through signs, through media and through mailings. All of those things cost money."
Williams reported more than $10,467 in contributions so far, although he donated about half the total himself. That puts him behind Darden Rice, an organizer for the Sierra Club, who has received more than $12,380 in contributions, including $3,000 of her money and $250 from her uncle, state Rep. Everett Rice, R-Treasure Island, who is running for state attorney general.
Also running in District 6 is Dwight "Chimurenga" Waller, who has raised $4,651; Cassandra Jackson, with $3,950; and Maria Scruggs-Weston, with $3,750, including $1,700 of her own money.
IF YOU GO
St. Petersburg primary early voting will continue through Sept. 26, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Locations include the following:
For more information, call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at (727) 464-3551.