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Political junkie

Democratic official touts chance to grow in Pinellas

By Times staff writers
Published September 21, 2005

For Florida Democrats, the road to statewide political victory may start at St. Petersburg City Hall. That's the unusual suggestion that Jon Ausman, a Democratic National Committee member from Tallahassee, made in a recent note soliciting money from Democrats across the state for mayoral candidate Ed Helm.

"Florida is the only state in the southern region which is competitive at the presidential level. Pinellas County (Clearwater, Largo and St. Petersburg) is a county trending from strong Republican to weak Republican," said Ausman, who is working on the Helm campaign to unseat incumbent Mayor Rick Baker.

"While gains can be made in other counties throughout Florida, this race may be the "tipping' point for success. We have to add onto the strong numbers coming out of Broward, Palm Beach, Alachua, Leon and Gadsden counties. Everyone in these counties should want to see Pinellas join them in voting solidly Democratic."

Though the race is nonpartisan, Ausman noted that Baker has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Bushes. Ausman said he feels so strongly about the election that he's driving to St. Pete every weekend to help out. He didn't mention that he's being paid to work on the campaign.

Helm also is emphasizing partisan politics in the race. In a recent e-mail solicitation for help, he called Baker "a conservative Republican who was the Pinellas County co-chair for George Bush's re-election. That's right; he's pro-war; pro-homophobic and pro-corporate welfare. I'm a career public servant including 25 years as a civil rights lawyer. ..."

KEY ISSUES: Candidates running in the Sept. 27 and Nov. 8 St. Petersburg elections are talking a lot about about affordable housing, crime and community policing. If an internal poll for the Rick Baker campaign is right, city voters don't see any single, clearly overriding issue. The July 31 through Aug. 1 telephone survey of 300 registered likely voters found that 19 percent of voters viewed crime and public safety as the most important issue facing the mayor and City Council, followed by education (14 percent); growth and development (12 percent); affordable housing (9 percent); economy and jobs (9 percent); taxes (8 percent); local neighborhoods (7 percent); the environment and open space (6 percent); improvements to Midtown (3 percent); and city services (3 percent.)

The poll by the respected Virginia-based Tarrance Group had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.8 percent.

EARLY MONEY: Chris Eaton, a Democratic candidate for the state House District 52 seat now held by Frank Farkas, is spreading the word about his campaign.

"Quality candidates provide voters with good choices, people who know the issues and have a record of bringing about change that improves the well-being of local citizens. I believe I am one of those people. With the support of friends and colleagues who know my track record, I have enthusiastically decided to become a candidate for this race. I am asking you to join me in this effort by contributing financially to the campaign," Eaton, owner of a company that does humanitarian work in South America, said in a letter seeking donations.

Eaton used to lead the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association and ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 2001 and for state House in 2002. He faces consultant Liz McCallum, who narrowly lost to Farkas in 2004, in a Democratic primary.

McCallum says she is finding lots of support and enthusiasm for her candidacy, but that Democrats are well-served to have a competitive primary.

"If the other side is going to have a very high-profile primary, we want to have one too," she said.

CITIES HONOR ANDERSON: State Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin, apparently learned some lessons during 12 years as a mayor and commissioner in Dunedin. The Florida League of Cities gave him its Legislative Appreciation Award for 2005, citing support of cities on issues including eminent domain, community redevelopment agencies and growth management.

The league noted that in 2003, Anderson successfully passed a bill allowing a city to provide for the travel expenses of its officials and employees. He also passed a bill in 2005 that allows cities to buy annuities for employees with 25 or more years of creditable service who have reached age 50 and have applied for retirement.

Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Political Junkie.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:24:18]