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Political junkie

Signatures, not fees, might get her into race

By Times staff writers
Published March 29, 2006

Samm Simpson, the long-shot challenger to 18-term incumbent Rep. C.W. Bill Young, a Republican from Indian Shores, is taking a different route toward qualifying for November's election.

Simpson, a self-labeled progressive who writes, produces and hosts a monthly television program titled Media Is Propaganda for Access Pinellas Cable, is attempting to collect 4,088 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot instead of paying the standard $9,726 entry fee.

"This exorbitant fee is just another reminder that the opportunity to take part in our elective process is skewed to those with money," Simpson said. "It is this "money for law' modus operandi that has helped create the culture of greed and corruption running rampant in Washington, D.C."

Simpson said about 40 volunteers are canvassing the mid and south Pinellas district gathering signatures, which are due April 10.

So far, Simpson said the campaign has about 1,500 of the 4,088 necessary petitions completed.

"We're really trying to make it a grass roots movement," Simpson of Dunedin said Tuesday. "This allows people to have a choice without necessarily having to plop down lots of dollars."

A copy of the petition can be found online, at www.sammsimpsonforcongress.com

If Democrats can make the ballot, here's a preview of what they might say about Young, courtesy of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

C.W. Young voted with Tom DeLay 89 percent of the time.

C.W. Young voted to weaken the ethics rules in a move that many say served only to protect Tom DeLay."

When Republicans realized it was "impossible to win the communications battle' over the gutted ethics rules, Young flip-flopped and voted to put the old rules back into place.

When Democrats offered a solution to clean up the House by strengthening ethics rules, C.W. Young voted twice to make sure it never even came to an up or down vote.

GETTING ON BOARD: As if Pinellas County needed more closely scrutinized, highly contested elections, look what's happening in the races for Pinellas School Board.

There are already 12 announced candidates for four seats, and that does not include incumbent Mary Russell, who is still weighing her options.

The race in District 3, a countywide open seat, is particularly intense with six announced candidates, including a longtime Pinellas school administrator and a former School Board member:

Richard J. Bergeron, 52, a Palm Harbor area pharmacist who ran in 2002 for the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue board;

Marti Folwell, 69, a substitute teacher and onetime president of the League of Women Voters of Clearwater.

Cindy Seletos, 53, an Apple Computer account representative from Tarpon Springs.

Sean O'Flannery, a 37-year-old social studies teacher and volleyball coach at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg.

Janice Starling, 42, a former School Board member from St. Petersburg.

Lewis P. Williams, 62, of St. Petersburg, a former area superintendent who announced his candidacy Monday.

THE DOCTOR AND THE TEACHER: State Sen. Dennis Jones, a Republican from Seminole, has been honored by the Florida Education Association with its 2005 Friend of Education Award.

"Dr. Jones meets with and listens to our members both in Tallahassee and back home," said Pinellas County Teachers Association president Michelle Dennard. "He led the fight to get the maximum yield from the slot machines for education and led the opposition to plans to weaken the class size amendment."

Jones, a chiropractor whose parents were both educators, was also chosen as a friend of education while serving in the house.

FIRE DISTRICT ENDORSEMENT: Florida Professional Firefighters, a group that represents 21,000 firefighters and emergency medical services personnel across the state, is endorsing Julie Peluso in a race to replace her husband as a Palm Harbor Fire Commissioner.

Peluso, who is the lone announced candidate, had already been endorsed by the Palm Harbor/Oldsmar Professional Firefighters. Her husband, Ken Peluso, is vacating his seat to run for state House District 48.

Aaron Sharockman and Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Political Junkie. Contact the staff at politicaljunkie@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 29, 2006, 01:23:20]