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Baker, Helm agree on little

Issues of development and police staffing are among those separating the two testy mayoral candidates at a forum.

By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published October 20, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The long-awaited matchup between mayoral candidates grew testy at times Wednesday night as Mayor Rick Baker and challenger Ed Helm sparred over issues ranging from affordable housing to staffing in the Police Department.

Baker, widely considered the front-runner, found himself in somewhat hostile territory during the candidate forum, which was sponsored by the Council of Neighborhood Associations and the League of Women Voters. He was taunted several times by hecklers, who booed and shouted during his responses.

Baker remained calm, although he showed a flash of annoyance when some audience members laughed as he praised the Police Department.

"You are laughing at our police officers but I'm proud of them," Baker said, angrily.

Helm, a former U.S. Department of Labor lawyer, is attempting to unseat Baker, a former mergers and acquisitions attorney who has served as mayor for four years. The two-hour forum also featured the eight candidates for the four available City Council seats.

Baker took several jabs at his opponent, openly scoffing when Helm suggested he was responsible for the removal of the barricades that contained protesters at BayWalk.

"Mr. Helm taking credit for taking down the barricades is like Al Gore claiming credit for the Internet," Baker said. "It's simply not true."

Helm fought back by challenging Baker to appear at a televised debate. He has accused Baker of ducking a one-on-one confrontation since announcing his candidacy in August.

"There should be a televised debate between the two of us. What do you say, Rick?" Helm asked.

"I think you've been on television plenty, Ed," Baker answered.

The two disagreed most starkly over downtown development. Helm said he supported an immediate ban on new construction.

"I think the citizens of this city are nervous about overdevelopment," Helm said. "We want development, yes, but we don't want it all in downtown in one area."

Baker disagreed, saying banning downtown development would mean halting construction on the new Progress Energy headquarters, the Dali Museum, the Mahaffey Theater and the Grand Bohemian hotel, among other projects.

The candidates also differed on police staffing levels, with Baker noting the number of police officers was at its highest level in history and Helm arguing there was still a need for more.

The tone was more cordial among City Council candidates, who largely agreed on most of the questions posed to them by the audience.

Candidates for the District 2 seat are lawyer Eve Joy and incumbent John Bryan; in District 4 incumbent Virginia Littrell is facing former council member Leslie Curran; Sierra Club organizer Darden Rice is challenging incumbent Earnest Williams in District 6; and political newcomer Jamie Mayo is battling planning commission member Jeff Danner in District 8.

Rice drew the biggest laugh of the evening for her response to a question asking if candidates would ban gay pride events, similar to a measure passed in Hillsborough County.

"I would not support such a ban - obviously," said Rice, a lesbian whose sexual preference became an issue during the primary, as the crowd applauded.

All of the other candidates said they would also oppose a ban.

The candidates were most split over whether curbside recycling should be provided. Bryan, Littrell, Williams and Curran said the city's current plan to offer a subscription-based service was enough. Danner was undecided. But Mayo, Rice and Joy said they favored a citywide service.

"It just has to be done," Joy said. "It's a bite-the-bullet thing. I'd even call it a no-brainer."

Carrie Johnson can be reached at 727 892-2273 or cjohnson@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:24:02]