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Politics

Party rejects style of leader

The thought of two more years under Ed Helm moved Pinellas Democrats, his opponents say.

By Will Van Sant
Published December 15, 2006

He's an agitator who inspires devotion and loathing in equal measure.

Yes, he lost every voting precinct in St. Petersburg in 2005 when he tried to unseat Mayor Rick Baker. But Ed Helm's quixotic bid galvanized a cadre of local progressives who saw him as their champion.

In July, they propelled him by a 10-vote margin to the chairmanship of the Pinellas Democratic Party. Members were drawn by his zeal, insistence on loyalty and unwillingness to compromise.

Many of those same qualities brought about his ouster as party boss Wednesday night.

In the end, he inspired faith in too few and with his combative style he offended too many.

"I did probably step on toes," said Helm, elected to finish out the term of Carrie Wadlinger, who stepped down. "Going into battle, you become more impatient."

Helm was beaten soundly by moderate Toni Molinaro, a 37-year-old teacher who has been a party member for two years. Molinaro was able to capitalize on the dismay many elected Democrats felt over Helm's leadership during the recent elections.

"We're looking for a local Democratic Party that can be a true partner and not focus on past battles and personal vendettas but on the issues that are important," County Commission Chairman Ken Welch said Thursday.

Welch was among several elected Democrats, including State Sen. Charlie Justice and State House Rep. Bill Heller, who attended Wednesday's party election to back Molinaro.

It was a remarkable showing. In years' past - even before Helm - local Democratic office holders have largely avoided the party, viewing it as disorganized and ineffective.

But with Helm as chair, Welch and others felt challenged not merely by incompetence, but by a political enemy from within.

"The thought of having him in charge for another two years really lit a fire under them," said Molinaro, who will serve through 2008. "It was time for them to pull together."

Under Helm, the local party drew controversy. In October, the state party withheld money from Helm after charging that he supported one slate of Democrats over another in the September primaries.

Helm denies he did so, but elected Democrats in Pinellas call the denial ridiculous.

A political action committee headed by Helm's wife, Adrien Helm, drew scrutiny from state investigators the same month for alleged violations of contribution limits.

But none of these imbroglios appears to have angered local Democratic leaders as much as the rigid arrogance they say is typical of Helm's style.

Take, for instance, Helm's views on party loyalty. Welch and County Commissioner Calvin Harris endorsed the Republican Baker over Helm in last year's St. Petersburg mayor's race. Helm insists that's a betrayal of the party.

And instead of deferring to Democratic incumbents or those who have the backing of mainstream leaders, Helm has supported darkhorse contenders and argued for their right to publicly debate the favorites during party primaries.

That position dovetails with Helm's belief that party resources should be used to support as many Democratic candidates as possible in a given cycle, even those with little chance of victory, instead of focusing only on marquee races.

Helm said all this was too much for some area Democratic politicians who enjoy close ties with Republican leaders and the donor network that supports them.

"I was making demands, and they are not used to that," Helm said. "They are used to ignoring the party."

Molinaro, who took the leadership post by a 142-72 vote, said Helm's inability to steer a middle course made it impossible for him to work with anybody other than his closest allies, which ultimately left him isolated.

"That's where I think his biggest misstep was," Molinaro said. "It overshadowed his gifts and abilities."

Molinaro's goals are simple: to get Democrats to the polls in greater numbers and to win elections.

She claims to be prepared to embrace those who opposed her candidacy, but realizes the road ahead, which culminates with the 2008 elections, is unlikely to be smooth.

"There's going to be a group of people who are bitter," she said. "Either they will fall away or they will try to make my life difficult and I will have to rise to the occasion."

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

[Last modified December 15, 2006, 05:32:07]