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Politics

Democrats oust Helm as leader

By WILL VAN SANT
Published December 14, 2006

LARGO - After just four months in the top spot, Ed Helm was ousted Wednesday night as head of the Pinellas Democratic Party.

When it was announced that Toni Molinaro of St. Petersburg, who teaches English as a second language in the Hillsborough County school system, had bested Helm 142 votes to 72, her supporters cheered and chanted her name.

The two adversaries then shook hands. Helm took a seat in the audience and Molinaro rose to lead the party meeting, held at Banquet Masters II in Largo.

"He alienates people, and he alienates good people," Molinaro said of Helm in an interview before the vote. "And I actually have a working relationship with elected Democrats in this county."

That was evident in the unprecedented number of Democratic office holders who turned up at the meeting. Many elected Democrats have shunned the local party, viewing Helm as an obstacle rather than an ally.

State Sen. Charlie Justice, state Rep. Bill Heller, county School Board member Linda Lerner, and county Commissioners Calvin Harris and Ken Welch, all Democrats, turned out as Molinaro boosters.

"History tells us that a house divided against itself cannot stand," Welch said in a speech. "Elected officials have avoided the DEC because of its circus atmosphere. The current leadership has fractured us, divided us. It is time for a change."

Helm, a self-described progressive, has the strong support of party members who see him as a bright, committed Democrat unwilling to compromise with the local Republican establishment.

Critics call him arrogant and unwilling to build bridges.

It has been a rocky road for the party since Helm was elected in July to serve out the term of Carrie Wadlinger, who stepped down. Helm had success recruiting new party members, but a political action committee headed by his wife, Adrien Helm, drew attention from state election officials for allegedly violating contribution limits.

The state party also chastised Helm for supporting one slate of Democrats over another in the September primaries, a charge he has denied.

The dustup resulted in the state party's withholding money from Helm.

Before the vote, Adrien Helm said her husband and his supporters would stay active in the party, even if he should lose.

"We are not going away," Adrien Helm said. "We are committed."

For the 37-year-old Molinaro, who will serve a two-year term, the real work now begins.

"There are two major goals that we have," she said before the vote. "One is to get qualified Democrats elected, the other is to improve voter turnout."

Municipal elections will be held March 13.

Will Van Sant can be reached at 727 445-4166 or vansant@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 14, 2006, 05:51:35]