Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Political Junkie

Lutz Guv'na is open to gifts of cash

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published June 24, 2006

The folks behind the lighthearted annual Lutz Guv'na campaign are taking a particularly humorous approach to this year's effort.

Each year, a slate of candidates runs for the honorary position. The victor is the person who raises the most money, which goes back to the community for events and organizations.

In its most recent newsletter, the Lutz Civic Association includes an "open letter" to Ralph Hughes, owner of a concrete building materials manufacturing company, who gives vast sums to candidates and enlists friends, relatives and business associates to do the same. He's also famous in local political circles for penning "open letters" to "interested parties" promoting lower taxes and fees, government efficiency and the notion that growth pays for itself. He often shows up at government meetings to argue the same points.

While those who have felt his wrath protest his influence on local politics, the Lutz Civic Association is welcoming his involvement in the Guv'na campaign. They note there are no campaign contribution limits, "thus, no one needs to lean on family, friends and business associates to get around campaign donation limits." It offers him five minutes of public speaking time at any future Lutz government meetings, instead of the "measly" three offered by other governments.

Of course, there is no Lutz government, which is why the open letter can boast that, "No Guv'na of Lutz has ever raised taxes . . . No Lutz Guv'na has ever expanded government staff or implemented burdensome regulations on the citizens or businesses."

The letter acknowledges there are no developers among the candidates, but says that there is a real estate agent, Edwina Kraemer; a fellow entrepreneur, Paul Vahue, owner of Great Gardens; and North Tampa Cadet Squadron leader William Westcott.

Donations can be made to any of the candidates, care of the Lutz Civic Association, P.O. Box 1, Lutz, FL 33548.

* * *

Hughes cut his teeth protesting government spending by campaigning against impact fees assessed on new construction. So he's been on the warpath lately, writing open letters to interested parties condemning a proposed hike of the impact fee assessed to help pay for new schools.

He makes the case that the Hillsborough County School District is getting a huge increase from the state for construction spending, which makes it unnecessary to raise fees. He says the School District doesn't have a funding problem, but a spending problem. (Much of the increase is meant to pay for new school construction necessitated by the class-size amendment and sharp gains in student enrollment.)

Hughes also showed up at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting to expound. Commissioners have to approve the hike, and a four-person majority has signaled it will.

Six of seven commissioners accepted campaign contributions from Hughes in their most recent elections, meaning that passage of the fee hike as proposed is still no gimme.

* * *

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms likely will play some role in absentia at this weekend's Gay Pride event in St. Petersburg. Storms was the architect of last year's vote by the commission to ban county government acknowledgement of and participation in gay pride recognition and events.

Gay rights advocates and other residents have appeared at the last two commission meetings to speak during public comment segments, generally to recognize the anniversary of that vote and say they haven't forgotten.

In fact, St. Petersburg artist Todd Richardson has created what he's calling an interactive art piece about Storms that will be on display near the beer tent today. It's basically a 20- by 24-inch picture of Storms. For $1, those who want to participate can press their thumb on an ink pad and then on the photo. The money will be donated to the gay rights group Equality Florida.

The piece will be titled "Stamp Out Hate." Though, note to Richardson (as well as countless bloggers, e-mail writers and others with poisonous keyboards, who make the same mistake): The first name is actually spelled Ronda, not Rhonda.

* * *

The political action committee of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association has announced a new round of campaign endorsements. They include: for governor, Democrat Jim Davis; for state chief financial officer, Democrat Alex Sink; for Florida Senate, District 10, Democrat Stephen Gorham; for the Hillsborough County School Board, District 2, incumbent Candy Olson; District 4, incumbent Jennifer Faliero; and District 6, Ken Allen.

Times staff writers Bill Varian and Bill Coats contributed to this report.

[Last modified June 24, 2006, 09:37:14]