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Storms raises Castor's profile

By Times Staff
Published June 18, 2006

It's no secret that Hillsborough County Commissioners Kathy Castor and Ronda Storms don't care much for each other. Their open fighting has been much publicized. But as Castor campaigns to succeed Jim Davis in heavily Democratic Congressional District 11, the irony is that Storms has helped Castor by raising her profile.

"Look, I'm not going to back down, whether it's Ronda Storms or it's Tom DeLay or others in Congress," Castor declared in a Political Connections interview airing today at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9. "It's very important at this time when the Republican Party has control from the White House to the Congress to the state Legislature down to the local level that there are independent voices, people that will speak out."

Castor is the front-runner in a Democratic primary that also has state Sen. Les Miller, businessman Al Fox and lawyers Scott Farrell and Michael Steinberg. Farrell is calling on her to resign her commission seat, saying she's not paying sufficient attention to her commission duties while campaigning, but Castor brushed that off in the taped interview saying she has rarely missed commission meetings.

Castor also ripped the new Medicare prescription drug program as "a disaster" that should be overhauled and said she would support a flag burning constitutional amendment

Political Connections airs at 11 a.m. today, but starting Monday the interview can be seen at no cost on Channel 340 (Tampa Bay on Demand).

LIBERAL ROD SMITH? In the Legislature, Rod Smith is the Democrat Republicans comfortably work with and once was recruited to switch parties. But in the Democratic primary for governor, state Sen. Smith is winning over some of the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party. At least that's what we've noticed while Smith has campaigned lately in the back yard of U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, his primary rival. Tampa Bay Smith supporters sniff at Davis' supporting reauthorization of the Patriot Act or missing a vote recently on "net neutrality" concerning internet access.

Friday, Smith is scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the home of former St. Petersburg mayoral candidate (and Dennis Kucinich-for-president organizer) Ed Helm. Among those hosting the event for the former Gainesville area prosecutor? Randy Heine, a head shop owner (he insists it's merely a smoke shop) and perennial candidate.

The following Monday, Smith is set to raise money in Tampa among a mix of liberal grass roots activists and establishment politicians. Among the prominent politicos we see on one of those invitations is Public Defender Julie Holt.

DADDY TOM: Father's Day, of course, is a time to step back and celebrate the dad's and families. Why not take the old man out for lunch? Maybe catch a game together. Or, if you're Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher ,score points over your childless rival, Charlie Crist. The Gallagher campaign Friday sent a mass e-mail letter from the candidate's wife, Laura Gallagher:

"I can't think of any more important responsibility than the example a father sets for his children. You already know that Tom is an extremely hard worker and a trusted public servant who has served our State admirably, but what you may not know is that he is also a great dad. He gives a lot of hugs, and says 'I love you' a lot, and no matter how long a day he has had, his face always lights up when he sees Charlie," she wrote, referring not to the attorney general but to their own son.

She even gave a nod to her husband's former reputation as a devoted playboy: "Tom always had a strong foundation, but the birth of our son made a real change in his life, and helped him focus on the things which are truly important and recommit himself to the values his family instilled in him as a boy."

Mrs. Gallagher invited supporters to e-mail their own stories about their fathers to be posted on the Gallagher campaign web site.

HERBERGER'S HELP: Uber GOP fundraiser Ann Herberger confirms to us that she's informally helping Republican attorney general candidate Joe Negron in his tough primary against front-runner Bill McCollum and Everett Rice (state Sen. Burt Saunders dropped out of the race last week, which should help Negron).

"Am I helping a friend? Yes. Am I his finance consultant? No I'm not," said Herberger, a longtime Jeb Bush pal and fundraising consultant to the state GOP. "Joe Negron is a friend of mine. I'm not out there actively raising money for Joe Negron, although he is a friend of mine and I've given him some advice and counsel."

Herberger, who says she's also donated to Negron's campaign, stressed that her support for Negron is no indication of the governor's preference.

DAVIS' TEAM: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis last week announced a 112-member statewide advisory committee. Names include former Speaker of the House Peter Wallace of St. Petersburg; Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Olson; Tallahassee Mayor John Marks; U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, Alcee Hastings, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Robert Wexler and former Sen. Bob Graham.

"I'm for Jim Davis because he is honest, direct and is not afraid to take on tough issues," said Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. "His appeal here locally has always been across party lines - he works well with everyone. Jim will work hard in Tallahassee to represent all Floridians and seek common sense solutions to tough problems."

Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Buzz. For more political news check out www.sptimes.com/blogs/buzz.

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 05:40:27]