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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 31, 2000
The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. Here are those replies.
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Jim Gillum, Republican candidate for Pasco sheriff
Surprise, Gillum was not endorsed by C.T. Bowen. A list of my accomplishments while sheriff of Pasco County will not fit in 250 words. The voters of this county will remember many of them.
Most of all they will remember that I had patrol units in their neighborhoods, drug arrests all year long not just at election time, thousands of drunk drivers arrested and criminals that target seniors went to jail. I also implemented the citizen's academy, school resource officer program, opened three substations, constructed the Land O'Lakes jail, initiated Safety Town and held regular town meetings with citizens.
The thousands of voters that I have contacted during my campaign are happy to hear my campaign platform including the return of neighborhood patrols, the senior crime protection programs and the boot camp for juvenile offenders. Most voters have welcomed me with open arms because they know that I will return professionalism to the Sheriff's Office.
They know that any unintentional mistakes I made in the past are human errors. I never did anything immoral or illegal during my eight years as sheriff and would never intentionally do so. The public knows me as the law enforcement professional that I am.
They know that I am the only candidate that can defeat the incumbent and return professionalism and quality protective services to their sheriff's office.
In 1996, the Times recognized me, based on my credentials, as the most qualified candidate for sheriff. What's changed?
Bob White understands the dangers our sheriff's deputies face every day and will work in putting more deputies on the street to protect Pasco's citizens. As a former police officer, deputy sheriff, special agent, and now sergeant with the Florida Division of Alcohol and Tobacco, Bob White has the experience to lead Pasco's Sheriff's Office.
Bob White has served 22 years on the front lines in law enforcement and he understands the devastating impact crime has on victims and their families and that is why Bob White will put the victim first and not the criminal. Bob White will have zero tolerance for criminals, especially those criminals who prey upon our children and seniors.
Bob White as a parent, realizes that even good kids can find themselves in trouble with the law. Bob White's philosophy is toughness when necessary yet fairness for all. As our next Republican sheriff, Bob White, will work with parents, teachers and our community to intervene early in the lives of children who are headed for trouble. Likewise, Bob White will have little sympathy for the career criminals who violate our laws and ignore their responsibility to society.
Bob White supports an open book philosophy where any Pasco citizen may review the way the Sheriff's Office spends taxpayers dollars. Bob White will never forget he serves the public and that every citizen has the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Bob White is a conservative Republican who will get back to the basics of law enforcement to ensure that each and every dollar spent makes us safer.
Bob White knows it is not a matter of holding public office, it is a matter of public trust. Bob will be a sheriff you and your family can trust.
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Eileen Ferdinand, Democratic candidate for County Commission, District 5
Thank you for your kind comments resulting from our recent interview. I appreciate you describing me as capable, a thorough researcher and a good candidate.
Because of my concern about special interest influence on the County Commission, I have limited campaign contributions to $100. I am the only County Commission candidate to do so. I will insist that an ethics policy be developed to ensure that the County Commission represents the people not special interests.
I will work to protect Pasco's water and natural resources, and for construction of "saltwater to freshwater" plants.
I will work to ensure that future growth is responsible and controlled.
I offer leadership based on professionalism and integrity. My years of governmental experience, combined with my record of working hard and researching the issues while using a common sense approach to governing is what I offer the residents of Pasco County. I want a county government that listens to and carries out the wishes of our residents; one that thinks before it speaks and acts; one that will put the public's interest first.
I must say that the Times endorsement in my commission race took me by surprise. I have attended every candidate event offered to me. Of the three hopefuls in my race, I have found William Faulkner's proposals to be the least realistic.
As you said, he is involved in the building industry, and inescapably will see things from that point of view. Your list of his priorities bears that out.
It is a mystery to me how the Times can make an endorsement and then when they are elected, complain editorially that they ignore the public interests.
I appreciate your recognition of my civic achievements which you characterized as admirable, I am, indeed, the only candidate in my race who can show such devotion to public service before being elected.
On your two major criticisms of me I have two responses:
You need to revisit the tape you made of my interview. After my initial remark on employment, I went on to point out that there was growth in the low paying service sector jobs.
On the matter of putting the impact fee before the public I will in fact, make sure that all tax proposals are subject to the democratic process in its widest possible context. I want the public to have a say since it's their money.
Those who stand with me on these issues should and will vote for Edmund R. Poulin, No. 38 on the ballot, Sept. 5.
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Pat Burke, Democratic candidate for County Commission District 1
Thank you for this opportunity to respond to your reasons for not endorsing me while you gave a questionable and at best, luke-warm endorsement of my Democratic opponent in the upcoming primary.
You state that my opponent "has no real grasp" on some critical issues, "offers fewer definitive policy proposals," but because she has "deep roots in the area" and "knows the value of appeasing customers," the Times endorsed her "despite her shortcomings." Amazing.
You state that my "advocacy for stronger environmental rules is commendable," but that because I have concerns about the environmental and economic impacts of the Ridge Road extension, a road that will only extend to the edge of the Cross Bar Well Field and thus is not a true east-west corridor, means that I am "uncompromising." I am definitely opinionated, but only after doing extensive homework and have always been recognized as not only willing, but seeking out the views of the other side. Uncompromising is not a term that is often applied to me and your use of it is not only a very inaccurate description of my position on Ridge Road, but of who I am, what I have been doing and what I stand for.
My platform, my reason for being in this political race, can be summed up in two categories. The first is responsible, well-planned sustainable growth, which adequately understands and addresses both the economic and environmental factors and which include economic development and jobs and I believe that citizens and communities have the right to be part of the whole process. The second, but just as important, is opened credible government which encourages citizen participation and which adheres to ethical practices of avoiding even the appearance of cronyism and conflicts of interest.
The are several major difference between my opponent and myself. Perhaps the most telling way to distinguish us is in our endorsements. I have been endorsed by the AFL-CIO's Central Labor Council, the Tampa Bay Sierra Club, the Suncoast Sierra Club and the Tampa Tribune. My opponent has been endorsed by the Pasco Builders Association and the St. Petersburg Times.
I am uncompromising on at least one issue -- we can do better. I will do better.
Your endorsement of my opponent came as no surprise. Repeated conclusive statements impugning my integrity seem to come easily for editorial commentary without supporting facts. The fact that you chose not to print the numerous support letters sent to you by the citizens of Port Richey speaks for itself.
I am committed to helping my city and will continue to do so. That is what elected officials are supposed to do. The 250 words that you have permitted me for rebuttal is a little short for me to explain the hundreds of hours I have spend on city projects and why I chose to vote one way or another.
When I was elected the people of Port Richey knew they were electing a man without a personal political agenda; someone who would listen and respond to their concerns; and someone who became involved for the good of the people. My hard work and dedication is solely for the people of Port Richey. The Sunshine Law that the Times has been exploiting serves to protect the people, not designed to harass public officials on their leisure time.
The fact is that my opponent, as city attorney, chose to quit rather than face tough challenges affecting the city. On Sept. 5, the citizens of Port Richey will make their own decision.
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