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Politics

Rouson nemesis joins House race

His former client, who filed a Bar complaint, is a write-in candidate.

By Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - She once complained to the Florida Bar that attorney Darryl Rouson had duped her.

Now, Calvester Benjamin-Anderson is running for the same state House seat as Rouson.

Benjamin-Anderson, a longtime St. Petersburg resident, qualified as a write-in candidate last week in the District 55 election. Her late entry into the race means a special general election will be held April 15.

Benjamin-Anderson denied rumors that she was pushed to run in order to close the primary to non-Democrats. She said her campaign is serious and that she intends to stay in the race for the long haul.

Before her candidacy, the lack of a Republican candidate seemed to indicate that the election would be resolved during a March 25 open primary.

The hasty District 55 election comes on the heels of Rep. Frank Peterman's appointment as the new secretary for the state's Department of Juvenile Justice.

Others running for the state House seat are Democrats Charles McKenzie, an educator and civil rights activist, and St. Petersburg City Council member Earnest Williams.

This is the second time Benjamin-Anderson will face off against Rouson.

In 2003, she said Rouson had charged her an excessive legal fee for a federal lawsuit she filed against Florida Power Corp., which alleged sexual and racial bias on the job. A judge dismissed the suit. The Bar also dismissed her complaint.

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 02:25:20]