St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice is taking a swipe at incumbent member Earnest Williams' travels: "Williams traveled to Russia, China, Japan and South Africa on TAXPAYER MONEY! Neighborhoods across St. Petersburg are all asking the same question ... Where in the world was Earnest Williams when we needed him most?" reads a new Rice mailing, featuring images of a suitcase, a plane crossing the globe and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
"Isn't it time we elected someone who wants to stay in St. Petersburg?" asks the piece, which also notes Williams' early plans to run for the state House soon after winning another council term.
Williams, whose picture is not included in Rice's mailing, makes no apologies for his travels abroad, saying he promoted tourism and economic development for the city.
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St. Petersburg City Council member Virginia Littrell hopes to extend her residence at City Hall, stressing a productive work relationship with other council members. But is the feeling mutual among her council colleagues?
Her opponent in the Nov. 8 election received a $101 contribution from the wife of council member John Bryan, the latest campaign finance reports show. "I guess it's a statement," Alicia Bryan said when asked about the check to challenger Leslie Curran.
"My wife is a voter, and she has her own money," John Bryan said. "And she can contribute to whomever she wants to."
Littrell said she was not surprised, accusing the couple of "cultivating" Curran as an opponent.
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Incumbent Earnest Williams has a high-profile ally in his fight against Darden Rice for the District 6 City Council seat. Mayor Rick Baker put one of Williams' signs in the front yard of his Old Northeast home. Williams returned the favor by putting up signs for Baker and City Council member John Bryan in his yard.
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Members of the city administration are contributing to Mayor Rick Baker's re-election campaign, and challenger Ed Helm is steamed about it: "The numerous contributions Mr. Baker has received from subordinates would and should be grounds for dismissal if this were the federal service: for Mr. Baker, the recipient of the contribution, as well as the giver," Helm said.
However, there are no rules against members of the city administration contributing to a political campaign in St. Petersburg.
City Attorney John Wolfe, Internal Services Administrator Mike Connors, Deputy Mayor Mike Dove, Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis, police Chief Chuck Harmon, Transportation and Parking Director Joe Kubicki and Director of Downtown Enterprise Facilities David Metz have all donated to Baker.
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Helm and Baker faced off at a Chamber of Commerce gathering at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club last Thursday. The match-up was far less lively than their first meeting at a Council of Neighborhood Association candidates forum, where Baker was heckled by protesters. Helm, who is running as a progressive Democrat and champion of the underdog, apparently tailored his message for the gathering of business leaders. Asked whether he was qualified to be mayor, Helm said he grew up in the upper-class suburb of Montclair, N.J., and attended prestigious schools. "I know which dessert fork to use and which not to use," Helm said.
Baker did not weigh in on silverware etiquette.
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The African-American Voters Research and Education Committee (AAVREC), a voter education group specializing in issues affecting African-Americans, announced its candidate endorsements for the St. Petersburg elections last week:
Rick Baker - mayor; John Bryan - Council District 2; Leslie Curran - Council District 4; Earnest Williams - Council District 6; and Jeff Danner - Council District 8.
Meanwhile, the Democratic-leaning Florida Alliance of Retired Americans, which rarely if ever becomes involved in local politics, endorsed Ed Helm. Alliance president and Democratic activist Tony Fransetta said the group was impressed with Helm's positions on health care and "fairness to retirees."
