Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Gallagher appoints insurance board

By WILL VAN SANT
Published August 30, 2006

Sure, he's in the final days of a primary race, but wanna-be Jeb successor Tom Gallagher is still chief financial officer of a state in need of insurance reform. So last week he appointed 13 people to a reconstituted Joint Underwriting Association, one of whom was County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan.

The state created the JUA in 1986 to help hard-to-insure busi nesses. A forerunner of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the JUA eventually went dormant. But with a growing number of businesses unable to find or afford coverage, the Florida Cabinet reactivated the JUA early this month.

"I'm hopeful that we can do something for those small business people out there to help them through this crisis," said Duncan, who is in the commercial real estate business.

War critic Ray McGovern to speak on Bush's policy

Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst and strident critic of the war in Iraq, is coming to the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N in St. Petersburg, on Sept. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. The event is billed as a discussion of the Bush administration's Middle East policies, but McGovern is also expected to speak in support of Samm Simpson, a progressive Democrat who is attempting to unseat U.S. Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young.

"I'm thrilled." Simpson said of McGovern's visit. "He's somebody that I respect deeply for his commitment to doing what's right in terms of American policy."

County candidates to be focus of Thursday forum

County voters take note, the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce will be offering a last chance to see county candidates in a forum setting before the Sept. 5 primary.

The forum will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Nielsen Media Research Center Auditorium at 501 Brooker Creek Road, Oldsmar.

Scheduled to show are District 4 County Commission contenders Susan Latvala and Ray Brooks, District 2 candidates Calvin Harris and Norm Roche, District 2 School Board candidates Nancy Bostock and Mary Russell and District 3 School Board contenders, Marti Folwell, Peggy O'Shea, Anne Scofield and Lew Williams.

Judicial candidates George Brown, Susan Bedinghaus and Nat Kidder are also scheduled to attend.

Supervisor of Elections Office officials will be at the forum to register voters and demonstrate the county's voting machines.

Will Van Sant wrote this week's Political Junkie. For more political buzz, go to www.sptimes.com/blogs/buzz. Staff can be contacted at politicaljunkie@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 29, 2006, 22:15:37]