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One common goal: They want votes

Candidates running in the Sept. 5 election explain to almost 300 residents why they're the best.

By TIMES STAFF WRITERS
Published August 12, 2006

BEVERLY HILLS - From the forest of colorful campaign signs to the gauntlet of candidate supporters pushing pamphlets, the election season had definitely arrived Thursday night at the Beverly Hills Recreation Center.

In the first of the election year's large public candidate forums, residents got to hear from candidates who will appear on the ballot Sept. 5, including School Board and County Commission hopefuls and Democrats hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite.

Nearly 300 people attended the event sponsored by the Beverly Hills Civic Association, the Beverly Hills Recreation Association and the St. Petersburg Times.

For those who missed the forum, it will be broadcast between 9 and 11 p.m. Wednesday on WYKE.

Below is a glimpse of what the candidates had to say.

* * *

School Board

District 1 candidate Michael "Joey" White said Citrus schools should be allowed to teach intelligent design as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

"There's certainly room for both of them at the schools," White said to scattered applause from the crowd.

Incumbent Lou Miele responded that intelligent design should not be taught in Citrus public schools. The school district recently adopted a new science textbook for the secondary schools.

"As much as I believe in my faith," he said, "there's no place for that in school."

Schools "need to teach facts to our children," he said. "Our parents and churches can teach religion. It's that simple."

The third candidate, Paul Earnheart, said he also is a religious man but thinks teaching intelligent design in public schools would violate the separation of church and state.

Miele has been criticized for seeking a seat on the School Board even though his two children attend private Catholic school. White's daughter is a kindergartener at a public school in Citrus. Earnheart has two sons enrolled in Citrus schools.

* * *

In the race for the District 3 seat, candidates were asked for views on term limits.

Renna Jablonskis, who has been the district's director of students services, said she would not seek a seat on the School Board after serving two four-year terms, as her opponent, incumbent Pat Deutschman, is doing.

"One runs the risk (of thinking) that they're in charge," she said.

That elicited an impassioned response from Deutschman.

"I obviously wouldn't be running again if I believed in term limits," she said.

Deutschman said she decided to seek another term after parents and other community members encouraged her to do so.

She tried to distinguish herself from Jablonskis by painting herself as an outsider who has brought balance to a board that is crowded with former teachers. She said she has been an advocate for parents who is not afraid to challenge school employees.

"I don't think terms limits should be something you want me to be subjected to," Deutschman said flatly.

Jablonskis countered that she would be an effective board member and enlisted help from supporters to make a point.

She held up a red triangle that showed the three themes of her campaign: communication, learning and safety. They encircled a heart with the word "students" written on it. She told the crowd that she knew the way to an A-plus school district.

"I want you to remember," she said before signaling supporters holding red balloons and wearing red T-shirts with her name.

"Mrs. J loves the way!" they shouted.

Some in the audience were startled while others nodded approvingly.

* * *

In the race for the District 5 School Board seat, candidates were asked whether board members should list their phone numbers.

"That's a pretty dumb question," Bruce Bellamy said. "Of course they should."

Hank Hemrick agreed that board members should be accessible to the public, but he said, "Just don't call me too late at night. I like to go to bed early."

Incumbent Linda Powers said her phone number was on the school district's Web site, then gave it out to those who didn't have it.

All three candidates said the district needs to push more students into vocational careers, and Hemrick blamed the high dropout rate among high school freshmen partly on the failure of the school system to get more kids interested in vocational careers.

"Not everyone wants to go to college," he said.

Bellamy criticized the board for not speaking out against misguided policies coming from Tallahassee.

There seemed to be particular distaste for a state program giving bonuses to top performing teachers, because many think the guidelines pit teacher against teacher.

All candidates agreed that it is time to start planning for a new high school, saying they would support impact fees to help pay for school construction.

All three School Board members running for re-election said Thursday evening that, in retrospect, the decision to change school start times last year should have been made by both the superintendent and the board, not only the superintendent. It should have included more parent feedback as well, they said.

* * *

U.S. Representative

Two of the three Democratic challengers to Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's seat, Rick Penberthy and John Russell, spent the evening trying to highlight their differences. The third candidate, David Werder, arrived late and was unable to participate in the question and answer session.

Though Penberthy and Russell outlined similar positions on the war in Iraq and the United States' energy crisis, they took separate views of the U.S. role in Israel.

"Israel has gone overboard," Russell said of the recent attacks against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

The United States has failed to develop a balanced policy regarding Israel's role in the Middle East, he said. While Hezbollah has no right to launch attacks against Israel, those most affected by the fighting are the Lebanese, he said.

Defending Israel, Penberthy said the state is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East and needs to defend itself.

"Israel has a legitimate right to exist," he said.

The United States is in a tough situation because it has no leverage with many other countries in the region.

"Instead of having a pre-emptive war, let's have some pre-emptive diplomacy," Penberthy said.

A question posed near the end of the session prompted the second major divergence in the candidates' opinions:

"What makes you a better candidate to defeat Brown-Waite?"

Russell, true to his more aggressive style, described his political advocacy work, championing other candidates and facing off against foes.

"I have the tenacity, the tenacity to take your issues to represent you in Congress," Russell said.

Penberthy stressed his service as a veteran, his long teaching career and the fact that he has four children, which he said makes him better able to understand family issues.

In his closing statement, Penberthy thanked audience members for their patience and joked about a man who told him that political speeches were "like horns on a steer."

"There's a point here, and a point there, but there's a lot of bull in between."

* * *

County Commission

Democratic candidates for the District 4 seat squared off over infrastructure issues.

Both Bernie Leven of Citrus Springs and Jim Brunswick of Floral City said the county's gas tax should be lowered.

Leven said commissioners made a mistake when they voted to implement a 6 cent local option gas tax last year.

"You don't institute the maximum right off the bat," Leven said.

If he's elected, Leven said, he will push to repeal 2 cents of the gas tax.

Brunswick said he would support repealing the tax altogether.

"I don't agree with any tax on gas," he said.

He said implementing a 1 cent sales tax - which would have to be approved by a referendum vote - might be a better way to pay for the county's road construction needs.

But Leven and Brunswick disagreed about whether the county should purchase the Florida Government Utility Authority's Citrus systems.

Brunswick, a utilities operator for the county, said the county should purchase the systems and also upgrade its own utilities to allow water reuse.

Leven said the $30-million-plus price of buying the FGUA systems isn't worth the costs that the county will incur in labor and repair work.

Brunswick said his main goal is "bringing government back to the people" with town hall meetings and a strong relationship with his constituents. Leven said he has a lifelong record of leadership and experience tackling tough financial problems.

* * *

For the three candidates competing in the Republican primary, the possible extension of the Suncoast Parkway into Citrus County was a point of contention.

Richard "Dick" Callahan - who has dubbed himself the "Sloooow it down candidate" - said he did not support extending the toll road.

"All that parkway is going to do is cause growth," he said. "We don't need growth."

Only Hillsborough County residents would benefit, he said.

"What has Hillsborough County ever done for you except for maybe try to steal your water?" he said.

Candidates Mike Smallridge and John Thrumston said they supported extending the road.

But Thrumston said the parkway should be built with the "least impact on the environment and surrounding neighborhoods." Smallridge, echoing remarks made by Leven earlier in the evening, said the extension should not block east-west or connector roads.

All three Republican candidates said the gas tax is a problem, but they differed in their proposed solutions.

Thrumston said the county should take ad valorem tax dollars and buy down the gas tax.

Callahan said the tax is a "regressive tax" that most burdens those who can least afford to pay it. He said it should be repealed because it is unnecessary to expand roads.

But Smallridge proposed a more middle-of-the-road approach.

"Those are popular answers," he said. "But I think it's irresponsible."

He said road expansion is necessary as more people move to Citrus, and commissioners made the right decision at the time when they voted to increase the gas tax. But now, he said, it's time to re-evaluate the system and find a way that the county can get the biggest bang for its buck.

Callahan said his main goal is slowing down growth. Smallridge said he would promote smart growth ideas that would change how the county grows. Thrumston said improving the county's long-range planning would be a top priority, in addition to increasing financial accountability.

[Last modified August 12, 2006, 07:18:19]