Todd sees hope for bridge in Obama stimulus

Former Pinellas County Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd thinks there might be money in president-elect Barack Obama's promised economic stimulus package to save the Friendship Trail Bridge.

The pedestrian link between St. Petersburg and Tampa was closed to the public in early November after engineers discovered structural failures.

Todd is a member of an advisory body to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. At a recent meeting in Boston, Todd said she learned from EPA officials that as part of Obama's stimulus package, federal money will be available for infrastructure projects than have environmental benefits.

Local officials are awaiting a price tag for repairs to the Friendship Trail, but have expressed doubt that money will be available for the fixes needed to make the span safe again for public use.

Todd said the federal government could look favorably on allocating money for such a project because the Friendship Trail gets cars off the road and promotes regional cooperation.

She made her remarks at today's Pinellas County Commission meeting, where she urged board members to get clarity on the cost of repairs and to aggressively lobby local members of Congress for their support.

"Make this a priority," Todd told the commission. "I believe we have a strong opportunity."

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

Waters, former legislator, may run for Seminole City Council

SEMINOLE -- Leslie Waters, who served eight years in the state House of Representatives, is considering a run for the Seminole City Council.

Waters picked up an election packet from the Seminole City Clerk's office Monday. She could not be immediately reached for comment, but her husband, Al, confirmed she is considering running for one of the two open seats on the council. Presumably, she would try for the seat now held by Seminole lawyer Peter Hofstra, who told city officials he will not run in the March 10 election. The other seat is held by Tom Barnhorn, who is running for re-election.

Waters, speaker pro tem during her last term in the state House, would add a certain cachet to a race that generally tends to be peaceful and rather lackluster.

Waters, 61, has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Florida State University. She worked for Allstate Insurance Co. from 1971-2000 in human resources, corporate marketing and government relations management. She served four terms in the House until term limits forced her out in 2006. Janet Long, a former Seminole council member, holds Waters' former seat representing House District 51.

After leaving the Legislature, Waters opened a political and grass roots consulting firm, Leslie Waters Government Relations. She also is as a political motivational speaker.

Most recently, Waters was considered as a possible candidate for her old House seat when fellow Republican Terry Sanchez withdrew just weeks before the election. Waters declined to run against Long, saying she wanted to concentrate on her consulting business and a future run at the state Senate.

Unlike state races, the Seminole election is nonpartisan. The city has a council-manager form of government with a mayor and six council members who run at large. Members serve three-year terms and must attend at least two meetings a month. They earn $5,562 a year and are responsible for setting policy, establishing a budget and hiring the city manager, city clerk and city attorney.

Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer

*

Pinellas bigwigs will flip flapjacks for homeless

Want important people to cook you breakfast? All you have to do is give up some cash for the homeless.

A number of Pinellas County bigwigs will cook and serve pancakes this month in a fundraiser for Pinellas Hope, including: Bishop Robert Lynch, Progress Energy CEO Jeff Lyash, Sembler CEO Craig Sher and Pinellas County Commission Chairman Calvin Harris. Other elected officials are also expected to attend, but have yet to confirm.

The breakfast is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 8 a.m. at Pinellas Hope on 126th Avenue N. The meal is free, but participants will be asked to open their wallets.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

*
 

Hillsborough Democrats elect new leaders

A standing-room-only crowd of Hillsborough Democrats still buzzing from the election of Barack Obama last month elected its new leaders tonight. Attorney Pat Kemp easily defeated consultant James Randolph for the chairmanship with 135 votes to Randolph's 45. Kemp said work must begin immediately on getting Democrats elected to the Hillsborough County Commission and state Legislature in 2010. She hopes to do that by increasing party membership and fundraising through local clubs.

Kemp's election came amid bickering inside the party and the decision by Randolph to make a play for the chairmanship instead of running alongside Kemp as vice chair. In Kemp's pre-vote pitch, she talked about her 20 years of service to the local party; Randolph said he was a relative newcomer with no baggage. "The house is not in order," he said. After his defeat, Randolph said he would remain involved in the party and continue his work building the East Hillsborough Democratic Club.

A nomination from the floor put Randolph on the ballot for vice chair, but he was defeated again by Chris Brown. Ella Coffee was elected secretary, and Marilyn Cappiello was re-elected treasurer. Sally Phillips, president of the GLBTA Democratic Caucus, defeated a slate of candidates that included incumbent Dianne Hart to become state committeewoman. Alan Clendenin ran unopposed to become state committeeman. He replaces Monroe Mack.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

*

DiMatteo backs Beyrouti to head Pinellas REC

After two terms as Pinellas Republican Executive Committee chief, Tony DiMatteo officially assumed his new job as state committeeman today, a post he ran unopposed for last summer.

Next Monday, the REC will chose a new leader, and DiMatteo has thrown his support behind former Redington Shores mayor J.J. Beyrouti. DiMatteo said Beyrouti's opponent is Dan Tucker, who ran the Ron Paul meet-up group in St. Petersburg in the last election cycle.

"He's a nice enough guy, don't misunderstand me," DiMatteo said of Tucker, "but he doesn't have the experience and knowledge that J.J. has when it comes to Republican Party affairs."

DiMatteo said he intends to send a letter to party members in coming days endorsing Beyrouti.

Will Van Sant, Times Staff Writer

*

Sierra Club honors Linda Saul-Sena

The Tampa Bay Sierra Club has awarded Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena with its 2008 Black Bear Award, the group's highest honor. Saul-Sena's name comes up frequently among those speculating on 2011 mayoral candidates. A press release announcing the award praises Saul-Sena for her work in developing a city tree ordinance and protecting the Hillsborough River, among other things. Most recently, Saul-Sena has been one of the most vocal opponents of a 25-year franchise agreement with Tampa Electric. She says the contract doesn't include enough commitments to renewable energy and conservation. But that's a battle she's likely to lose. The contract is slated for a final vote by City Council this week.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

*

Pinellas Democratic State Committeeman race heats up

A quiet, fierce battle is under way for state committeeman for the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee.

Rick Boylan, president of the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, is up against Ed Helm, former Pinellas Democratic chairman.

Helm brought out the big guns Friday, with robocalls featuring Jon Ausman, a member of Florida's Democratic national committee and an activist behind the fight to get the state's delegate votes counted during the recent presidential primary.

"Ed Helm has a deep passion for the Democratic Party. Helm has a vision for a stronger party, which allows Pinellas County leaders to have a greater say in the direction in the Florida Democratic Party," Ausman said in the robocall.

Helm said the calls went out to anyone likely to vote in the Thursday race.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

*

Baker will give preservation talk

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mayor Rick Baker will be at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort on Wednesday to push a new children's book about historic preservation and talk about local history.

Souvenir of St. Petersburg, Views from the Vinoy by Tampa author Robin R. Gonzalez tells the story of the Vinoy Hotel, the downtown waterfront parks, downtown architectural styles and Sunken Gardens. The book is a partnership between the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association, Pinellas County Schools and the city-owned Sunken Gardens.

The invitation-only event couldn't be more timely. Local preservation activists and the city have both pledged to save downtown historic buildings, but those plans have been held up.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

*

Pinellas left out of mass transit talks

ST. PETERSBURG -- Pinellas County leaders were noticeably absent from two mass transit meetings held by U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, in Tampa last week.

Mica, Republican leader of the House Transportation Committee, said his staff sent out invitations to the Hillsborough County Commission, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa City Council and nine Hillsborough legislators. His staff also asked the Tampa Bay Partnership to invite local transportation officials.

The partnership said it sent out invitations to members of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, including Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. But no elected officials from Clearwater, St. Petersburg or Pinellas County governments showed up to the last-minute meeting Tuesday.

Joe Kubicki, St. Petersburg's transportation director, said the city knew about the meeting, but he was on Thanksgiving vacation last week and did not send anyone from his staff. Baker was traveling to New York Tuesday to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The meeting was a call to action for local leaders, according to Mica, who urged them to come forward with mass transit plans now as Congress sets to complete an update of its five-year transportation funding bill. Governments that don't submit plans soon could be left out.

Mass transit, said Mica, "is critical to the whole region, and we want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to get involved."

Mica said he will try to meet with Pinellas County officials soon.

"Tell them I love them in Pinellas County, and I wouldn't neglect a wonderful hair on their bodies," he said.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

*

Bill Mitchell sets up defense fund

Tampa lawyer Bill Mitchell, who lost a bid for the 9th Congressional District seat to Republican incumbent Gus Bilirakis in November, has set up a legal defense fund to help fight a defamation lawsuit brought by his Democratic primary opponent, John Dicks.

During the primary campaign, Mitchell produced clients that Dicks represented in the 1980s and 1990s when the former Plant City mayor worked as a financial adviser. They claimed Dicks cheated them out of money. The disputes were settled through arbitration or in court, and Dicks denies any wrongdoing.

"The stakes are high," Mitchell said of the lawsuit in a release. "Political free speech is the bedrock or our political process and is protected by the First Amendment. The alleged defamatory statements are accurate and based on public records. I am confident the courts will vindicate the statements."

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

*

Huckabee book tour stops in Tampa

TAMPA -- Mike Huckabee's national book tour stopped in Hyde Park today, and while it had the look and feel of a whistle-stop campaign for another presidential run, the former Arkansas governor says it's so much more.

"I don't know, 2012 is a long way away," Huckabee said while sitting in a tour bus that arrived at 9 a.m. from an earlier book signing in Sarasota. "What I want to do is help people understand that the Republican Party is not dead."

As he stepped from the bus, a line of about 75 Huckabee fans, clutching copies of his recently released book, Do the Right Thing, cheered his arrival.

"I love that man," shouted Dennis Krause, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg as Huckabee passed. "I'd love to see him run in 2012."

His appearance was sponsored by Inkwood Books.

-- Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer