When politicians misbehave, committee's watching

By ALICIA CALDWELL

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 26, 2000

If you follow politics at all, you've heard it before:

He pulled out my yard signs. But she put her signs in front of mine.

It's enough to make you welcome your kids' squabbling. At least you can put them in time-out and deny them Fruit Roll-Ups. With politicians, you're left to rely upon their individual integrity. If that makes you wince, you are forgiven.

There is a group that has for the last six years attempted to ride herd on the political process in Pinellas.

The Citizens for Fair Campaign Practices committee had its election season kickoff dinner this week at Feather Sound Country Club.

Unless you're a political wonk, you probably don't recall what it is. It's a voluntary, bipartisan committee that attempts to mediate disputes between politicians who engage in a spectrum of shenanigans, such as writing untrue, nasty things about an opponent in campaign literature.

The group tries to get all candidates to sign an ethics oath that makes them pledge, essentially, to be decent human beings: No lying, no racist or sexist stuff, no taking unmerited potshots at an opponent.

The committee takes complaints and holds hearings, but since it officially has no power, pretty much all it can do is hold up candidates for public ridicule.

Darryl Paulson, chairman of the committee, says he has received three complaints already this year. He says it's early for such volume, and therefore, like a hurricane forecaster, he predicts an active political season.

One complaint comes from Kandice Friesen, an assistant public defender challenging Pinellas County Judge Karl Grube for his seat on the bench.

In a letter to the committee, Friesen accused Grube of saying she had previously tried to get appointed to the bench when she had not. She complained about a variety of his actions, including his wearing judicial robes to a campaign event.

Late Friday, Grube filed a grievance against Friesen for failing to make a full and public disclosure of financial records, Paulson said.

Another complaint has to do with a written claim by Pinellas sheriff's candidate Jack Soule, who claims to be "The Unanimous Choice of Area Law Enforcement." The literature says Soule has the backing of the Fraternal Order of Police, a law enforcement support organization.

Turns out that it was the Hialeah branch of the group that lent its support to Soule, not the Pinellas members, who were none too pleased at the implication that they might be backing Soule. They're behind incumbent Everett Rice.

The Fair Campaign Practices committee will, in short order, set up hearings to figure out whether someone did something wrong, who the bad guy is and how serious a transgression was committed.

As one can imagine, there's a lot of leeway in such a process. Not a bad thing, unless of course you don't like the calls that are being made.

Paul Bedinghaus, chairman of the Pinellas Republican Party, calls the committee a "kangaroo court." He says the Republican Party, which has its own ethics committee, does a good job of policing the Republicans' campaign activities.

"It's a kangaroo court in the way they let evidence in and not come in," he said. "Anything can happen and that leaves it open to manipulation."

He said that in years past, the group has strong-armed candidates to sign the pledge by threatening to publicize their refusal. And Bedinghaus says the process is too free-form.

"There is no definition of fair or unfair. There are no rules. No guidance. It's all seat of the pants. It needs to be tightened up."

Bedinghaus said he is hopeful things will be different now that Paulson, who took over as chairman 15 months ago, is at the helm.

For his part, Paulson is philosophical about how the committee is received. He said that candidates -- and many of them in Pinellas races have signed up -- are enthusiastic about the committee and what it stands for.

However, all that can change in a moment.

"They all love us," Paulson said. "Until we rule against them."

To report elections transgressions, call Paulson at home at 784-7876 or at work at 553-1582. He welcomes the calls.

- Alicia Caldwell covers Pinellas County politics. She can be reached at (727)893-8145 or by e-mail at alicia@sptimes.com.

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