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Williams-Rice showdown veers from script

An unusually feisty meeting at Tiger Bay focuses on ethics instead of race.

By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published October 27, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The political showdown between Darden Rice and Earnest Williams was billed as a referendum on race. Instead, it became a debate over ethics.

During the unusually feisty meeting of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club on Wednesday, Williams questioned Rice's integrity and accused her of misrepresenting his record on community policing. But Rice said Williams hides behind the accomplishments of others in city government and is unfit to lead.

"Experience without competence does not deserve a second term," Rice said.

With less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 election, the televised debate at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club was an important event for both candidates for the District 6 City Council seat.

Rice, 35, a Sierra Club organizer, initially threatened to boycott Tiger Bay because she objected to the emphasis on race in the description of the event in the club's newsletter.

Rice is white; Williams is black. Their district is one of two in the city where black registered voters outnumber white.

After talking to club leaders, Rice agreed to attend. And race was never mentioned during the hourlong debate.

But honesty was a hot topic.

The controversy began after Rice criticized Williams for voting against adding more community police officers to the St. Petersburg Police Department. She was referring to a proposal made by the Council of Neighborhood Associations in August to raise the city's property tax rate and use the extra money to fund three community police officers.

Williams voted against raising the property tax rate but said that doesn't mean he opposes community policing. He accused Rice of deliberately distorting his record and called her a liar.

"I would never want to support a candidate who didn't tell the truth," Williams said. "This candidate will do anything at any cost to attempt to win. That to me is just wrong."

Rice was also scolded during the question and answer period by club member Robert Eschenfelder for buying the domain name www.earnestwilliams.com

Rice, smiling sheepishly, said it was a "lighthearted jab" against her opponent but also a reminder. "I wanted him to know that every step of the way, I am one step ahead of him," Rice said.

Williams got an admonishment, too, by a student at Shorecrest Preparatory School who questioned why he considered running for the state House of Representatives just a year after running for the City Council.

Williams said he opted not to run for the House after deciding he has more to accomplish on the council.

Rice at one point accused Williams of touting the city's current renaissance while actually accomplishing little during his five years on the council.

"My style of leadership is not "me, too,' " Rice said. "I believe in hard work and initiative, and I will not take credit for the accomplishments of others."

Williams said the City Council and Mayor Rick Baker have worked together as a team to steer the city's progress. He warned the crowd that changing the team could derail the momentum. And he chided Rice for her lack of experience.

"I believe you need to be prepared," Williams said. "You have to demonstrate to people you care about the community but also that you're involved in the community."

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

[Last modified October 27, 2005, 01:27:13]