Who backs whom?
Asking local leaders produces the same result as the primaries so far: There's no clear front-runner.
By JOHN FRANK, Times Staff Writer
Published January 28, 2008
The free-for-all campaign for the White House is upending Hernando's political establishment.
It's the most wide-open presidential race in the last half-century, particularly on the Republican side. And now it's Florida's turn to cast ballots.
But ask local politicos whom they support in the 2008 contest, and you'll receive as many answers as candidates. Then there's the crowd that still doesn't know - or isn't saying - just a day before the primary.
In a way, Hernando is a microcosm of the national electorate. The leading candidates have split the early contests - and the delegate prizes - in a way that presents no clear front-runner.
"It's almost painful because all of them are good candidates," said Tom Hogan Sr., a longtime Brooksville Republican and former county commissioner. "They all have their strong points and their weak points."
Hogan, of all people, should have a horse in this race. He knows all the GOP candidates well. But he decided just days ago on Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, after seeing him speak in the Villages. The sticking point was the issue of illegal immigration.
"He's not a perfect candidate, but I think he's the best thing we've got to hit the ground running," he said. "They all have plans. But based on his record and reliability, he's the best one for that."
Hogan's wife, Mary Ann, also leans toward Giuliani, but it's not solid.
"Every day, I change my mind," the former state committeewoman said. "I've really been weighing it and studying it."
Another undecided Republican is Ana Trinque, the chairwoman of the county party. All the campaigns have courted her for an endorsement, but she remains on the fence.
"It's a mixed bag," she said. "That's what's making it real difficult."
Split minds don't describe just the Republicans. Local Democrats are divided among the three remaining candidates for their party.
Take the Rowden household. Jay Rowden is the chairman of the local party. His wife, Diane, is a county commissioner.
He supports John Edwards.
"I like his stand as far as corporate influence in this country," he said. "I see that as the root of a lot of our evils going on politically."
She supports Hillary Clinton.
"She's proven herself in New York," she said. "Words are easy to come by, but proven action is what we need."
So what's it like at the dinner table each night? Obviously, "we're kind of split," Jay Rowden said. "We just accept it and move on. We don't talk about it a lot, which is usually the best way to deal with it."
It's not that Trinque or other local elected officials try to remain neutral.
Endorsements from prominent county politicos are prized by candidates. The Mitt Romney campaign announced the support of U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and Hernando Commissioner David Russell early in the game. Likewise for Giuliani, who touts support from Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Brooksville native, and state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.
"Gov. Romney has had a successful business career and a long record of public service," Brown-Waite said. "That is why I am proud to endorse his candidacy for president of the United States."
Then again, the effect of endorsements on voters is not well-substantiated.
For instance, Fred Thompson had a strong organization in Hernando before he dropped out of the race last week. The actor-politician boasted the support of county Commissioner Jeff Stabins; state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; and state committeewoman Gail Samples.
More important, these local supporters serve as the foot soldiers who rally local troops for the grass roots efforts that serve as the backbone to any good campaign.
Supporters of Republican Ron Paul stand at high-traffic corners of local highways each week to get the word out about their candidate.
"In supporting Ron Paul, it's about Constitution-based, small government and lower taxes," explained Dan Prentice, Paul's Hernando organizer. "He has a good shot for phenomenal support if we have paper ballots."
John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6114.
The Republicans
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Brooksville native
State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey
Tom Hogan Sr., former county commissioner
Mary Ann Hogan, former state committeewoman
Len Tria, former county commissioner
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor
The campaign did not provide a list of local endorsements.
John McCain, Arizona senator
State Rep. Ron Schultz, R-Inverness
Ron Paul, Texas congressman
Dan Prentice, county campaign organizer
John Baeza, assistant county organizer
Carol Maas, meetup group leader
Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor
U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville
County Commissioner David Russell
Laurie Pizzo, county campaign co-chairwoman
The Democrats
Hillary Clinton, New York senator
County Commissioner Diane Rowden
Pat Hernandez, county Democratic Party vice chairwoman
Peg Heal, state committeewoman and former county party chairwoman
Al Hernandez, state committeeman
Carol Thompson, county Democratic Party secretary
John Edwards, former North Carolina senator
Jay Rowden, county Democratic Party chairman
Barack Obama, Illinois senator
Glenn Claytor, county Democratic Party treasurer
Undecided or uncommitted
State Rep. Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill
County Commissioner Rose Rocco
County Commissioner Chris Kingsley
Hernando GOP Chairwoman Ana Trinque
Sheriff Richard Nugent
Tax Collector Juanita Sikes
Clerk of Court Karen Nicolai
Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek