Politics

Change in rules lets in Giuliani

Sun City Center is divided over the political activity.

By ANDREW MEACHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published January 17, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Rudy Giuliani's visit may draw pickets.

SUN CITY CENTER - To allow Rudy Giuliani to speak on Sunday, the Sun City Center Community Association had to change its rules.

That has left some residents unsettled. Some may picket the invitation-only event, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the association's Community Hall, 1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd.

Giuliani plans to show up, barring the unexpected, campaign spokesman Elliott Bundy said.

Even so, three board members have called an emergency meeting for Friday to revisit whether the association should allow political activities on its property.

"We're breaking all the rules we've had about not having politicians on campus," said board member Bob Black, on the losing side of a recent 5-3 decision to rent the hall to a resident organizing the event. "That is extraordinarily divisive in the community."

Nonsense, says Janet Wilson, who paid $500 out of her pocket to rent the hall. Wilson is organizing the private event with Dee Williams, president of the Greater Sun City Republican Club. Wilson said that neither she nor Williams know whom they will support for president yet. "It's educational," she said.

The invitation to Giuliani's campaign has been in the works for several weeks, Wilson said. But before the deal could be sealed, the association had to change a bylaw passed two years ago prohibiting political candidates from using its facilities.

Marilyn Safian, president of the South Shore Democratic Club, opposed the decision to allow the rental. "It's surprising that this has been done on such short notice," Safian said. "Why wouldn't they err on the side of caution?"

Association president Paul Wheat would just like the controversy to end. "This is a lose-lose situation any way you cut it," Wheat said.

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 00:56:10]