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Democratic county chairwoman resigning

A special election to replace LaVaunne Miller, 68, will be Feb. 11. Three years are left in the term.

By GARRETT THEROLF
Published January 11, 2006

LaVaunne Miller, chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Pasco County for the past five years, announced Tuesday that she is resigning three years before the end of her current term. Her tenure has coincided with Pasco's transformation from a reliable swing county to an apparent Republican stronghold, but Miller said Tuesday that no Democrat has asked her to step aside - other than her children who worry for her health.

"I'm 68. I'm an old lady, and we run out of energy sometimes. I still have my commitments to the Democratic Party and its ideals and its principles," said Miller, a longtime sufferer of heart disease.

The party announced that a special election to fill the vacancy will be held Feb. 11.

The winner of that race faces a daunting task to reverse the party's fortunes. In almost every category - election winners, candidates, cash, volunteers and voters - the ledger shows the party losing ground.

For 2005, recently released campaign finance reports show that the county Democratic Party raised only $18,000 in comparison with the Republican's $116,000.

As a result, Miller said Tuesday, she is not sure whether the party will be able to present candidates for the two County Commission seats up for election that are now held by Pat Mulieri and Steve Simon.

"People are a little concerned about putting their name out there and not having the money to carry it through," Miller said.

Nor does the party have the staffing it would like to support them.

Pasco County has 152 precincts to staff with volunteers who make sure party loyalists are registered and have transportation to the polls, but fewer than 70 of those precincts currently have an assigned precinct committee member, Miller said.

"It's hard to wage a grass roots ground war without those positions filled," said Chuck Kalogianis, the former county party vice chairman who lost to Miller for the chairmanship in 2000.

The lack of money and volunteers combined to force the group to shutter their headquarters in New Port Richey last year.

All of this has been disheartening for Miller, who previously served as secretary for the party and as a leader for the United School Employees of Pasco union.

"It would have been really nice to resign as chair after a winning campaign," said Miller, who is well-liked by Democrats and Republicans.

Tax Collector Ted Olson, the only remaining Democrat elected to county office, said, "Considering everything, LaVaunne has certainly done a good job and has certainly given it everything she's got."

And some Democratic activists say success for the party will come in 2006, despite how the party is organized.

"I think it's just been a perception that people have that Republicans are the moral party, but we are learning now that that is not the case, from Tom DeLay down to Judge (John) Renke," said state committeeman Matt Miller.

Garrett Therolf covers Pasco politics. He can be reached in west Pasco at 727 869-6232 or at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6232. His e-mail address is gtherolf@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:41:19]