Politics

Ties, friction frame contest

A vulnerable incumbent and a well-heeled former supporter face off.

By David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer
Published February 10, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Ted Schrader wants to keep his seat for a third term. John Nicolette has the support of local GOP bigwigs.

DADE CITY - Four years after skating to re-election unopposed, the task of staying in office has toughened drastically for Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader.

Fellow Republican John Nicolette, a former supporter and donor, has jumped into campaign against Schrader with a bang, raising $40,000 to Schrader's $11,000.

Making Schrader's chances more difficult, voters passed deep property tax cuts Jan. 29, ending the days of ample cash for popular programs. A controversial landfill project near Dade City shadows the election, too.

Nicolette, a ranch owner in east Pasco, already has influential connections. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to Coastal Rivers Basin taxing district board, and Nicolette works with Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson on the State Fair board. His father-in-law is former County Attorney Robert Sumner. And firefighters are helping out Nicolette, a Tampa firefighter.

Bristling at Nicolette's unexpected challenge, Schrader repeatedly has noted Nicolette's business and political ties to the Iafrate family, proponents of the landfill. In an interview, Schrader also questioned whether Nicolette wants to be commissioner or just a politician. In 2006, Nicolette expressed interest in running for the Florida House seat ultimately won by Rep. Will Weatherford.

"Is it just a desire to have an elected office?" asked Schrader, a two-term member.

But Schrader faces his own problems.

Some fellow landowners in east Pasco have worried that his stances on growth management will sap the value of developing their land. The leadership of the local Republican Party has lavished praise on Nicolette, a donor and fundraiser.

And hanging in the background: Schrader was caught surfing the Internet for personal use on public time - a miscue that helped bring down a fellow commissioner in 2006.

* * *

The pace of development quickens the pulse of voters in east Pasco, the district Schrader represents in the countywide primary Aug. 26. While Nicolette quietly has developed several smaller subdivisions, Schrader's past is part of the debate, too.

As Pasco moves forward to tighten development standards, the issue has become a dividing line between Nicolette and Schrader.

Nicolette strongly supports the county creating a program allowing developers to buy density credits, essentially purchasing development rights off a piece of rural land so the property is set aside as open space. Then the developer could apply those credits to increase the scope of a project elsewhere. Communities across the country use the program, including Charlotte County.

Nicolette used a 1997 land deal by Schrader's family to pound home the point. The Schraders bought 790 acres for $978,425. Four days later, they sold a conservation easement on the land to the Southwest Florida Water Management District for $974,508. The easement restricts development there, but allows the Schraders to own and control the land.

"It's no different dealing with water. If it was okay for Ted to get his development credits, property density credits should be okay, too," Nicolette said. He said people with a chance for county credits shouldn't be left out "because the commission doesn't have the people in place to do an ordinance."

There is a difference, however, and Schrader has defended his family's deal. The land was set aside without any credits going to a private developer to increase the size of another project.

"He doesn't understand the difference between them," Schrader said.

Schrader also said he supports the concept of density credits, but there has been little support on the commission to create the program. That's because, he said, the county has to choose in which sections of Pasco to allow the credits to be used, so congested areas wouldn't be harmed by major new developments.

"Now that we have a new county attorney, maybe it's time to revisit it," Schrader said.

Nonetheless, the issue helped cost Schrader a supporter, Assistant Public Defender Tom Hanlon. Hanlon is among the few previous Schrader donors who have contributed to Nicolette thus far.

It helped that Nicolette once spent the night helping Hanlon take care of his cows when water pipes broke on Hanlon's farm. But Hanlon suggested the candidates' differences on density credits - Hanlon said he has 150 acres ripe for development rights - cemented his decision. Schrader called Hanlon's move hurtful, echoing his surprise at Nicolette's candidacy.

"I admire anybody who has the intestinal fortitude to maintain that position," Hanlon said about Schrader. "Now, that doesn't mean I will vote for him."

* * *

Schrader has emphasized his judgment as a commissioner, however. Last week, he highlighted his repeated support of cutting property taxes since first winning office in 2000 - including a $6-million cut in 2006 and meeting the state-mandated cut last year. Schrader also said his leadership led to the hiring of new County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and building the Wesley Chapel Regional Park.

The same kind of expertise will be important because Pasco likely will choose a replacement for 25-year County Administrator John Gallagher by 2012, Schrader said.

But Schrader wants voters to put aside a lapse that contributed to Commissioner Steve Simon's 2006 loss to Michael Cox. That year, the Times detailed how commissioners Simon, Pat Mulieri and Schrader surfed the Web for personal use during public meetings.

"I've admitted that it was the wrong thing to do," Schrader said, noting his county laptop computer is now used only on county business in county buildings.

Mulieri easily won re-election in 2006, but her opponents avoided jabbing at her on the issue. Simon wasn't so lucky. Cox pummeled Simon over the Internet use.

Schrader by far did the most surfing, by the Times' account. Of the 708 non-government-related Web pages visited during public meetings in 2005 by the three commissioners, Schrader visited all but 40. (Technology issues might lead to the visits being somewhat overstated, the Times reported then.)

"The citizens of Pasco County deserve and expect somebody that puts 100 percent focus as a commissioner. When I'm a commissioner, I'm going to do one thing - listen to the people," Nicolette said.

* * *

Nicolette has won praise for his work ethic from Pasco County Republican Party chairman Bill Bunting. Bunting leads some of the party's most dedicated volunteers - including Nicolette, a member of the county GOP executive committee. That group, which often hews to Bunting's influence, can help win votes, particularly in a primary election.

Already, purple Nicolette yard signs have popped up around the county as he tries to unseat the venerable, fourth-generation Pasco family member. Nicolette said he has "a burning desire to serve" - just as he does as a firefighter.

While the party does not intend to endorse in the race, Bunting pointedly noted Nicolette's fundraising and interaction - and Schrader's sparse involvement in party activities.

Since 2004, Bunting and Schrader sometimes have had a difficult relationship. Schrader supported the Penny for Pasco sales tax increase, which voters approved. Bunting did not. Unlike all four other Republican commissioners since 2004, Schrader didn't donate to the county party.

Schrader may be taking a different tack, however. He said he expects to have better fundraising when new campaign reports come out in April. He said he plans to sponsor a table at the Reagan Day Dinner in May, which means donating at least $650 to the local GOP. He also spoke at January's Republican Party meeting, and visited the Spirit of '76 Club, which is run by Ann Bunting, the chairman's wife.

"I've seen him more in the last three weeks," Bunting joked, "than I have in the past six years."

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6232.

At a glance

Battle for District 1

War chest

$11,000 $40,000

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 21:31:25]