Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Political Junkie

Local GOP changing its tune on Harris

By Aaron Sharockman, Letitia Stein and Adam C. Smith
Published May 10, 2006

Now, as word swells that state House Speaker Allan Bense may enter race for U.S. Senate, local party officials are changing their tune.

"I think right now, we're waiting to see Friday at noon (the deadline for candidates to qualify) what the field looks like. We'll take it from there," said local party chairman Tony DiMatteo. "We think Katherine's a fine Republican, but in anything, you have to look at the whole field."

Stay tuned.

JOVAN IS IN: Democrat activist Candi Jovan will run for state House District 50.

Jovan, a real estate agent and Pinellas organizer for the Howard Dean-created Democracy for America group, is the lone Democrat running for the competitive seat now held by Rep. Kim Berfield, R-Clearwater.

Berfield is running for state Senate. Two Republicans, Nancy Riley and Ed Hooper, are running to replace her.

Jovan, 60, had last year said she was seriously considering a run.

The seat, which covers much of Clearwater, Safety Harbor and Feather Sound, was won by Democrats Al Gore and Bill Nelson in 2000 and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Betty Castor in 2004. John Kerry lost the district by less than 1 percentage point.

'HANG IN THERE': The four Republican senators who voted against Gov. Jeb Bush's constitutional amendment on vouchers may not have endeared themselves to GOP leadership. But they do have friends, and some in surprising places.

Jack Latvala, a former Republican senator from Pinellas County, sent an e-mail titled "Hang in there" to fellow Republican Sen. Alex Villalobos of Miami, who lost his job as majority leader for bucking the party agenda on vouchers and class size.

"After doing eight years in the Senate, I look back on votes I wished I had had the courage to make. You showed your courage when it counted," said Latvala, who also sparred with Bush while in the Legislature.

The other Republican "no" votes also have been inundated with e-mails from both sides. Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, notes in response that Republican leadership has led the charge to make it harder for citizens to amend the Constitution. She won't stand for the Legislature being the worst offender.

As for Bush's agenda, she writes: "With all due respect, not one person on this earth is always right, that includes me, and the Governor too."

FORGET ABOUT 2006: Mike Peasley is focusing on the elections - in 2008.

Peasley, a retired Pinellas County sheriff's detective, said Tuesday he's running for sheriff in 2008. Peasly, a Republican, will likely face incumbent Sheriff Jim Coats in the primary.

"I think the morale is terrible at the Sheriff's Office," said Peasley, 52, of Palm Harbor. "I think they have a lot of staffing issues. It's time to bring the pride and integrity of the office back."

Peasley said he's a cop, not a politician, but was persuaded to run by friends and fellow officers. His son is a sheriff's sergeant.

Without discussing specifics, Peasley said the county's largest law enforcement agency is in need of major changes.

"The good-old-boy syndrome thing has to go," Peasley said. "I want to get back into the deputies and their families, and what's best for them."

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

[Last modified May 10, 2006, 10:10:13]