Northpinellas: Mayor says editorial writer has facts wrong

I am flattered that the St. Petersburg Times editorial writer deems my personal life so newsworthy that she used almost 800 words to try and put me in a bad light. Unfortunately, once again, this editorial writer can't seem to get her facts straight.

Point 1: Jerry Beverland never accused Vice Mayor Dave Tilki of violating the Sunshine Law. Mr. Tilki would be the last person on this council to violate the Sunshine Law. Where on earth did your all-seeing, all-knowing editorial writer come up with this erroneous information?

Point 2: Councilman Marcelo Caruso and I did not keep our trip to Miami "a secret." Many people knew about the trip. You insinuate that we should have told our "City Council colleagues" about the trip. Well, consider this, Ms. editorial writer: If I had called any of the other council members to tell them of our travel plans, then I might indeed have violated the Sunshine Law. You'd like that, wouldn't you?

I ask again, where do you get your "facts?" You say I was "dining on lobster." I don't even like lobster! I had one deviled egg and one glass of sparkling water. By the way, I didn't see you at this event, so how do you know what I ate?

Now, I realize that Ms. editorial writer is suspicious by nature, and that she feels that all politicians (especially those that her newspaper did not endorse in the last election) are inbred with corruption. Please, Ms. editorial writer, try as hard as you can to have a little faith that all mayors and councilpersons are not out to deliberately violate the Sunshine Law.

What the city of Oldsmar has is a mayor who tries to be honest and upfront with his actions, and who openly admits his faults and shortcomings. I was not afraid -- nor was I ashamed -- to admit that I did indeed violate the Sunshine Law very early in my political career, before I knew what the law was all about. I am human, just like you, Ms. editorial writer. And I have my suspicions that you are not perfect, either.

The citizens do not have any reason to be suspicious of my intent nor my motives. I am always upfront with both. But I do believe the citizens of Oldsmar should be suspicious of Ms. editorial writer's intent and motivation in writing such an ill-conceived, error-filled and mean-spirited editorial.

I did nothing wrong by going to Miami. I believe Oldsmar and its residents may someday benefit from the relationships I forged with the former Brazilian president and other foreign dignitaries. And if I had it to do over again, I would.

Ms. editorial writer concludes her hit piece by questioning why the citizens of Oldsmar should trust me to do the right thing. I believe the people of Oldsmar do trust me, and with good reason -- I've never given them a reason not to. I have always kept my word to them, and have always put the best interests of Oldsmar first.

In fact, I'd suggest we take a poll. Let's see who the people of Oldsmar think they can trust more: their three-term mayor, or some nameless, faceless St. Petersburg Times editorial writer. I think we all know the answer to that question.
-- Jerry Beverland, mayor City of Oldsmar

Police bossiness seen several times

Re: Police, remember you are servants, not bosses, letter, June 19.

When we first moved here from Chicago in the 1970s, it was refreshing to find the police in Clearwater and Pinellas County so willing to make a newcomer feel welcome.

I understand with the constant influx of newcomers, it can be overwhelming to the police forces down here, but my husband and I have been witnesses to many instances of plain "bossiness" from these agencies. I have seen them block entrances to a convenience store parking area with more than one cruiser to give a woman on a scooter a ticket. When I asked them to move so I could get access to the lot, I was totally ignored.

My favorite was upon arriving at a store on Clearwater Beach and encountering two officers entering the store. We arrived at the front door at the same time, and when one officer made a move to open the door, naturally, I assumed he was opening it for me. They proceeded into the store and hit me in the head with the door. And last but not least, my husband and I have been witnesses to officers literally getting into a citizen's face and screaming at them while another officer stood sheepishly by, obviously embarrassed by his associate's behavior.

Come on, officers, I know it is tough out there, but just like you, we are watching. Maybe what is needed is more training in professionalism.

Don't get me wrong, I have seen many nice and extremely well-trained police officers and deputies. It is the 20 percent of the Gestapo that is giving the rest a bad name. I fully intend to take another incident up with a superior, if I don't get arrested in the asking.
-- Judith Douglas, Seminole

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