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Politics

Democratic primary gets ugly

Accusations and counter-accusations fly as each side in the 11th Congressional District race pours on the vitriol.

By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published September 1, 2006

TAMPA - How heated is the Democratic primary race for the 11th Congressional District?

Candidate Ralph Fernandez, on candidate Al Fox:

"This guy is a charlatan. This guy has learned a lot from Havana."

Fox, on Fernandez:

"Ralph Fernandez is a puppet for the extreme right-wing Batistites."

The latest barbs prickled out of a fight over campaign yard signs. Fernandez, one of five Democrats in the race, has asked Tampa police Chief Steve Hogue and State Attorney Mark Ober to investigate Fox in the theft of about 200 of his campaign signs.

The signs say:

Give Fidel Castro a Voice in the U.S. Congress. Vote Al Fox. Paid for by Ralph E. Fernandez, registered Democrat since 1973.

Fox supports opening U.S. relations with Cuba. Fernandez vigorously does not.

Last week, Tampa retiree Enrique J. Cotera told Fernandez and a Times reporter that he had seen people in cars bearing pro-Fox magnets rip out Fernandez's signs.

"When I see garbage on public property, I usually pick it up and throw it in the wastebasket," Fox said last week, upon hearing the allegation.

He said Thursday he had taken down only one sign, which was illegally on public property.

Fernandez said his signs were actually taken from private properties, where he had permission to post them. Many were near Fox's own signs, he said. It's Fox, he said, not him, who was putting signs in the wrong places. Fernandez said he has the pictures to prove it.

"Honestly, it's criminal conduct," Fernandez said of the alleged sign stealing. "There's no doubt about it."

Fox said his signs, too, have disappeared. Fernandez and his forces are just trying to intimidate him, Fox said.

"I can tell you nobody in my campaign is going on private property and taking any signs down," he said.

Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy declined to comment on the situation because she hadn't seen Fernandez's complaint. State attorney's spokeswoman Pam Bondi said her office had not yet reviewed it, either.

Fox views the dispute as a way for Fernandez to stir controversy, pander to Miami Cubans who might hire him as a private attorney and obscure real issues.

Fernandez views the dispute as a campaign crime that should be taken seriously - before it sets a precedent of bad and illegal campaign behavior.

He has gone on the offensive, scattering more of his $4.50 signs across areas of Hillsborough County as if he's creating a scavenger hunt. He thinks it'll take Fox supporters a while to find them.

He says he's planted signs in Carrollwood and in Town 'N Country.

"You can't believe the immense pleasure I got," he said.

Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 4, 2006, 07:02:01]