2006 Know Your Candidates

A study in contrasts

U.S. House of Representatives: 9th District

By ROBIN STEIN
Published October 25, 2006

In style and substance, it is difficult to imagine two candidates more different than Gus Bilirakis and Phyllis Busansky.

Bilirakis, a probate lawyer and state representative from Palm Harbor, seeks to succeed his father, Rep. Mike Bilirakis, who has represented the 9th Congressional District for 24 years.

Busansky is a Clintonian moderate with a long pedigree in public office and Oprah Winfrey-like magnetism that has united the local party.

Bilirakis supports prayer in school and opposes gay marriage, abortions and stem cell research. If elected, he said his top priority would be to bolster support for community health centers and examine Social Security, immigration and the war in Iraq.

In the Legislature, Bilirakis earned high marks from chambers of commerce, the construction industry and small-business groups.

"I've always been interested in public service," he said. "I really like to help people."

Supporters often praise Bilirakis for being approachable and a good listener. He has raised more than $2-million in campaign contributions - much of it through fundraisers headlined by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Busansky said she's flattered by the attention. When she was a Hillsborough County commissioner, she was ambivalent about her nickname: "Bulldozer Busansky."

"I did not talk about it much at the time," she said. "I would have preferred something a little more feminine."

But Busansky often is credited for Hillsborough County's nationally recognized indigent health care plan. She said the subsidized primary care clinics have provided preventive care and dramatically reduced emergency room visits.

"It saved the taxpayers millions," she said. "It is a national model."

Busansky charges that "Congress is in terrible shape," citing policy failures ranging from Medicare to homeland security, immigration to Iraq.

Even with fundraising help from VIP Democrats - including Sen. John Kerry, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and former Sens. Bob Graham and Max Cleland - her campaign funds amount to less than half of Bilirakis'.

THE JOB

U.S. Representative

The 9th Congressional District covers northern Pinellas, western Pasco and suburban Hillsborough counties. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $165,200. For maps of congressional districts, see Page 8.

THE CANDIDATES

Republican

Gus M. Bilirakis, 43, grew up in Tarpon Springs, lives in Palm Harbor and is a probate lawyer based in Holiday. He attended St. Petersburg College, earned a degree in political science from the University of Florida and graduated from Stetson University College of Law. He was an adjunct professor teaching American government at St. Petersburg College during the 2002-03 academic year. Since 1998, Bilirakis has been a state representative for House District 48, which covers northern Pinellas and part of southern Pasco. He is married and has four sons. Assets: House in Palm Harbor, securities, joint business venture, property in Holiday where law practice is located, stock in law practice and title company, bank accounts and prepaid tuition accounts for four sons. Liabilities: Mortgage. Sources of income: Probate law practice, title company, state representative's salary. Web site: www.gusbilirakis.com.

Democrat

Phyllis H. Busansky, 69, was born in Connecticut and has lived in Tampa for 27 years. After graduating from Wheaton College, she earned a master's degree from Brandeis University's School for Social Policy. Busansky was a Hillsborough County commissioner from 1988-96. She is on the faculty of the School of Public Health at Columbia University, where she teaches a seminar in leadership and coalition building. She has served on civic boards, including the Hillsborough County Hospital Authority. She was named Outstanding Public Official by Governing magazine for her indigent health care program in 1996. She and her husband have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Assets: Home, checking account, bank certificates of deposit, mutual funds, municipal bonds, money market funds. Liabilities: None. Sources of income: Columbia University, consultant's work, state pension. Web site: busanskyforcongress.com.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 15:06:30]