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Busansky joins race for Congress

The former county commissioner is the fourth Democrat so far bidding to succeed GOP Rep. Mike Bilirakis.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published October 26, 2005

Phyllis Busansky, a former Hillsborough County commissioner and leader of Florida's welfare-to-work program, is jumping into the race to succeed Mike Bilirakis in Congress.

At a time when Democratic and Republican strategists alike see a tough political climate for Republicans, Busansky is the fourth and best-known Democrat to announce for the strongly Republican seat.

"I can't read about Congress any more and just not do anything. The public interest has to come before the special interests," said Busansky, 68. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't think I could win."

District 9 stretches from north Pinellas into south Pasco, and into north and southeastern Hillsborough counties. It's no easy target for Democrats.

President Bush won the district by 14 percentage points in November 2004, though Democratic Senate candidate Betty Castor lost by 1 percentage point.

To make matters tougher for Democrats, Rep. Bilirakis, R-Tarpon Springs, is working hard to help his son, state Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, succeed him in Washington. The younger Bilirakis, a lawyer, has raised more money - $741,000 - than any other candidate in America running for an open congressional seat.

Bilirakis is in a primary contest against David Langheier, a Pinellas chiropractor and first-time candidate. Busansky faces a Democratic primary against Greg Rublee of Oldsmar, a former Defense Department official; Fred Taylor of New Port Richey, a real estate broker and veterans affairs activist; and Tampa lawyer Bill Mitchell.

"I expected opposition in the primary and the general election," said Gus Bilirakis, 42, dismissing talk that Bush's dropping poll numbers might affect his own election prospects.

"He's doing a good job," Bilirakis said of the president, adding that with the war in Iraq, "We're on the right track, and we're doing the right thing."

Busansky served two terms on the Hillsborough County Commission starting in 1988, and in 1997 she became the first executive director of the Florida WAGES board, overseeing the state's welfare-to-work program. She also served as director of aging services for Hillsborough County.

She cited improving access to health care, helping seniors and protecting the environment as top priorities, and strongly criticized a controversial proposal backed by Mike Bilirakis to allow drilling as close as 125 miles off Florida's coast. As part of the deal, which Congress has yet to approve, the Legislature and governor would have control of waters closer to shore.

"I see those drilling rigs coming closer and closer to my shoreline, and I don't agree with it," she said.

Gus Bilirakis said he is not yet convinced that his father is correct about that compromise, but with increasing pressure to drill in the eastern gulf, "I commend him doing the work to soften the blow that may come."

Busansky, who is married with three children and nine grandchildren, said she's confident she can raise enough money to compete with Bilirakis but won't match him: "I do not have connections with the pharmaceutical industry, I do not have connections with the oil and gas industry, but I do believe there are enough people out there who want to change where we're going, and want leadership."

Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 26, 2005, 00:44:15]