Larry Biddle lends Darden Rice a hand
Larry Biddle, founder of PlanningWorks in St. Petersburg, has an estimable political resume. He was deputy national finance director for the Howard Dean campaign, a deputy campaign manager for Betty Castor's U.S. Senate run and Internet advisor to state CFO Alex Sink.
Using social networking technology to political advantage is one of Biddle's specialties, and now he's using his skills to support Darden Rice, one of two Democrats campaigning for the District 3 Pinellas County Commission seat.
Why Rice? "She's a winner," Biddle said. "She's a candidate that can connect well with people."
Biddle said he's also working on behalf of State House District 48 Democratic hopeful Carl Zimmerman and District 54 Democratic contender George Gonzalez.
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, Bay Buzz offers the latest news on Tampa Bay politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
Rice will need all the help she can get running against Nancy, but Nancy will still win big!
Posted by: Dirt | July 14, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Bostock is going to win in a landslide!
Posted by: | July 14, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Nancy Bostock cannot run away from the fact that she is Pinellas County's version of Rhonda Storms.
Posted by: | July 14, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Biddle is great.
Get a good warm up victory with Darden, maybe Carl and if the weather cooperates - Gonzalez
Good warm up for the 2010 races !!!
Posted by: | July 14, 2008 at 06:44 PM
It's obvious that Darden is the candidate of choice when a national fundraiser who has helped raise more than $30 million for political candidates jumps in to help with her county commission race! I'm glad that people with insight and skills are stepping up to help such a smart, progressive candidate-- as Darden, this is what democracy sounds like!
Posted by: | July 14, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Why Rice? "She's a winner,"
Translation: “’cause her uncle said to”
"She's a candidate that can connect well with people."
Reality: There aren’t that many GLBT’s in this county to impact a countywide race. But if we’re lucky and Bostock doesn’t play the gay card… well, then she’s malleable enough for us to control.
Posted by: REC Member | July 14, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I think Darden is hot!
Posted by: | July 14, 2008 at 09:01 PM
In a few days, the real fun begins when all of the candidates for all of the BOCC Seats begin Public Appearances at the various debates and forums.
While it remains to be seen, there is only one that may stand out in this crowd, and, unfortunately for Darden, she is most definitely not the one.
Posted by: A Watcher | July 15, 2008 at 05:41 AM
Bostock kept the PCSB finances in order and test scores (including minority scores) went up. She will roll to victory!
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 07:02 AM
Congrats, Darden. Well played. Keep up the good work on the campaign trail.
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 07:50 AM
"Bostock kept the PCSB finances in order..."
Ummmm... $17-million on a failed Choice plan!
"... and test scores (including minority scores) went up."
Ummmm... 53% drop-out rate!
"She will roll to victory!"
Ummmm... like two Superintendents rolled out of town!
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 08:24 AM
What? Darden couldn't just buy "www.nancybostock.com" to run her internet campaign?
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 09:32 AM
... ouch!
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Darden is the best candidate.
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 01:26 PM
As determined by whom, and by what criteria.
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Based on what? Getting beat in a City Council race by Earnest "I don't know what I'm doing" Williams? Darden's a nice person with no gravitas.
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Unfortunately for Darden, she is being played by all sides like a cheap violin.
Don't believe your press clippings.
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 02:16 PM
2:08 - reasonable question
2:13 - narrow-minded
2:16 - true, and good advise
... but I still say she's hot!
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Nancy will ride in on her Jesus dinosaur...
evolution bad...
adoption a rent to own proposition...
JUST the "educator" needed for our county!
If This wing nut wins
we deserve it!
Posted by: since 1962 | July 15, 2008 at 06:33 PM
If Bostock plays the "gay card" she is a fool. Darden is well respected and she has dealt with that attack before. If Bostock pulls that one out, she is more out of touch than anyone could imagine. Hence lets teach creationism in science class. Gimme a break!!!
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Hey 10:21, Why are you playing the Gay card against Bostock?
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Bostock will win because she is the proven mainstream public servant.
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Nancy is not mainstream. I am offended that anyone think her values and choices come anywhere near mine. Politically speaking, she should be floated out on a piece of ice like the Eskimos.
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Obviously you are far outside the mainstream. Since Bostock has been elected county-wide three times by Pinellas voters I would say she is very much in line with the thinking of the average voter. Maybe you would feel more at home in San Fransisco?
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 11:47 PM
It's spelled San Francisco, sweetheart.
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 11:50 PM