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Another Democrat jumps into race for House seat

A St. Petersburg litigator gives the leading Democrat some competition for the District 53 post.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published March 8, 2006

The campaign to succeed Charlie Justice in the state House is getting more competitive.

St. Petersburg City Council member Rick Kriseman announced his candidacy to succeed outgoing state Rep. Justice in heavily Democratic House District 53 more than a year ago. With little strong competition in sight, he reeled in a series of endorsements, raised more than $40,000, and appeared to many Democrats to be skating toward victory.

Not so fast.

Now Charlie Gerdes, a commercial litigator and former top Pinellas fundraiser for the Bill McBride gubernatorial campaign, is jumping in to challenge Kriseman for the Democratic nomination.

"It's something I've had a passion for for quite some time," said Gerdes, who worked at Raytheon for 16 years before becoming a lawyer.

"My business experience, my real life experience puts me in a position to go up to Tallahassee and explain to them that they have it upside down. Business shouldn't come first, people should come first. And what's good for people is good for business."

Kriseman, 43, was not pleased by the news: "He thinks "I've done a good job on council. He agrees with 95 percent or more of my issues . . . This is why the Democratic Party has had the difficulties we've had, because we don't work as a team."

Gerdes said he's "not running against Kriseman" but that at age 50, he can't wait for a political opportunity. "I happen to think I have stronger leadership abilities through my business experience and life experience," he said.

House District 53 covers parts of western St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Lealman, Kenneth City and Gulfport and is widely viewed as a safe seat for Democrats. Also running are Democrat Michael Derry and Republican Christopher K. Ah Leong.

Gerdes said his top priorities are improving Florida's schools, the quality of jobs in the state and growth management. He argues the state needs to reserve tax breaks for high wage jobs and should not be "giving away the store to create minimum wage jobs."

Formerly with the law firm Holland & Knight, he now works at Keane, Reese, Vesely & Gerdes. A 42-year resident of the Holiday Park area of St. Petersburg, Gerdes graduated Florida State University and St. Thomas University School of Law. He is married and has four boys, ages 11 to 22.

Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 8, 2006, 01:42:19]