Kriseman rips Samm Simpson on campaigning at Raytheon

ST. PETERSBURG -- In a letter to Democratic congressional candidate Samm Simpson, state Rep. Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) tells her "you should be ashamed of yourself" for campaigning at community meetings about the toxic plume around defense company Raytheon.

Kriseman writes that he hesitated to send the letter because it might give "unintended significance and validity to your campaign."

His complaint: That at meetings, her campaign was sign-waving, passing out campaign literature, and questioning incumbent U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young's role. He also faults Max Linn, her Democratic opponent, whose campaigning during plume meetings he calls "offensive and reprehensible." He also sent the letter to Linn.

"Do you not understand that for every second you or one of you or one of your supporters is at the microphone politicking, an actual resident of the area is being silenced? Have you no respect for these people?" he wrote.

Simpson, who wants to represent CD 10, responded with a letter of her own. "He was way off base with that," Simpson said in an interview. "I’m just trying to help people. That’s not an easy thing to do in this world. "

Her story:

At the May 30th meeting, she saw sign waving and agreed it was inappropriate. The sign waving stopped.

At the July 9th meeting, her volunteer coordinator Mike Fox handed out no literature but announced he was a volunteer for the campaign and asked two questions of the Department of Environmental Protection -- had the EPA or Young been in touch with your office? She wrote that she would have asked him not to ask the second question.

On July 14, Simpson and Fox attended, but Simpson did not identify herself as a candidate and asked a question about the Environmental Protection Agency. Fox asked where Young was, but Simpson said she felt it was inappropriate.

When asked if she thought the letter should have been directed at Linn, Simpson said she thought so because he "tagged every windshield" at the July 9th meeting and spoke at the July 14th meeting until Sen. Bill Nelson stopped him. He also had two people handing out literature, she said.

Read Kriseman's letter here and Samm Simpson's response here.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Comments

Sooo, let me get this straight. Simpson admits sign waving was a bad idea, and admits asking about Bill Young was a bad idea, but she thinks Kriseman was off base? She just backed up his letter.

Rick with some swagger. I like it.

I think Samm is NUTS!

Thank you, Representative Kriseman.

A question: Did K's law firm try to get in there to represent victims before the lawmaker ever spoke as a leader?

Can we get back to directing some of this haughty disdain at the polluters and people who covered this up?

Simpson deserves this. Linn too.

which hat was mike wearing at the meeting? more identities than sybil.

be cautious, samm, be cautious.

Its not Krisemans law firm. Its Joe Saunders.

Remind me not to be on the receiving end of a Rick Kriseman letter.

[AJS]

Well thank you Mr. Kriseman. I believe this shows a lack of leadership and poor decision-making on the part of Ms. Simpson. I genuinely do not believe she is a bad person; however, the same can not be said for Max Linn. I can't wait to see his next egotistical act of incompetence.

My favorite part is Simpson saying "It wasnt just me - Max Linn was worse!". Two little kids

My favorite part is how none of these three, Kriseman, Linn, or Simpson really have done anything to help fix any of the problems we have in this community. More dog parks and walkways won't fix these problems Rick.

9:10pm - I'm not a huge Kriseman fan, but with due respect, he has contributed to our community. Lets not lump him in with these wackos.

Krisman why don't you and your Republican group go play somewhere else.
What did you offer to do to help these people? ANYTHING?

[bmi]

I won't question whether sign waiving a passing out campaign literature was a good idea or not. What I do know is that Samm Simpson is the only candidate that will speak for the people when she takes Young's seat in Congress. The residents of District 10 that are effected by Ratheon's mess need a congressperson who will not tolerate the environmental degradation of Pinellas County. That person is Samm Simpson

Young met with the president of Raytheon in Washington and explained that he felt it was the total responsibility of Raytheon to solve this problem and solve it quickly. He also visited the site where the toxic waste exists and he received the same briefing that was given to the public meeting. He also met with the EPA and asked them to stand by, which they agreed to do in the event that the matter couldn't be handled with Raytheon or the state. He also met with the head of the Florida Dept. of Enviromental Protection to offer any assistance that he could to fix this problem.
Now, how do I know all of this? Because I work for Raytheon.

Ha

[jmt]

If anyone doesn't know, Krisman supports Hackworth, as reported in the Buzz.
Krisman, doing Hackworths dirty work? Hackworth try running a campaign on your knowledge of the issues, which I think you are severly lacking, so you resort to republicrat henchmen?
Hackworth why weren't you there? You should be learning about the people in district 10.
What is wrong with asking if Young was there,he IS the congressman there?
Krisman, who's politing now?

[jmt]

Sorry "politicking"

10:57
Thanks for the info.Re: Young's role in Raytheon talks.
Any chance of going public with this, and identifing yourself, so that it can be confirmed?

[jmt]

And once again, Hackworth making non news items news, but now he has a buddy.

Kriseman isnt supporting Hackworth.

[Joe]

I was at one of those meetings. That was the most serious crowd I ever saw.
When elected officials were introduced
there was silence. They had NO interest in politicing.

[David]

I was at the May 30th meeting and saw several candidates for various offices working the room. In fact, I approached Ms. Simpson, as I am sympathetic to her campaign, and suggested she take advantage of the situation. I thought I was instructing her in the subject of politics as I chatted with her and pointed out how the professional politicians in the room were smiling and shaking as many hands as possible. She responded politely, but disagreed. She told me that she felt awful that someone in her campaign had been waving signs out front. She was genuinely devastated that someone might think she would take advantage of people's pain for the sake of politics.
That night, I disagreed with her and thought she was wrong to tell volunteers to stop. It turns out she is even more wise than I thought.

Yes there are two ways to confirm this without me losing my job. Call Raytheon and ask for Mitch Lee, who is Raytheons manager in Pinellas County or Mr. Bill Swanson, who is the President and CEO or the Secretary of Floridas Dept. of Enviromental Protection or call Mr. Young. I am sure Mr. Young would be more than happy to discuss this with you. I would call his Seminole office and talk to a man named Mr. Glenn. He is aware of all of Mr. Youngs contacts with Raytheon, the EPA and the other agencies. He was with him on his visits and I am sure would be more than happy to connect you, personally or by phone with Congressman Young.

I would appreciate it if when you call Raytheon you don't mention this blog.