Congressional candidate returns contributions

The mayor of Dunedin has returned two contributions to his congressional campaign because he felt the donors were trying to influence him.

Bob Hackworth said today he returned $500 from two Dunedin developers. At a runaway Dunedin City Commission meeting last month, Richard Gehring and Bill Kimpton argued with the commission when it tried to set an expiration date on development plans approved by the city. They asked for an exception for their major downtown project that the commission approved three years ago, Hackworth said.

Hackworth, a Democrat, is running for Congressional District 10 and will face two other Democrats in an Aug. 26 primary to determine who faces the incumbent, U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young.

Hackworth said he has received phone calls from other developers who tried to pressure him into changing his mind on the issue. They said they were ready to donate to his campaign but didn't because of his position on the site plan ordinance.

Hackworth, who will consider the issue again tonight at another meeting, said he didn't want the conflict of interest looming over his vote.

"That’s not how I make my decisions, and they know better than that," Hackworth said. "I just wasn’t comfortable and so I figured it was best to send them back."

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Jorge Arbusto]

Worse than a plant...Hackysack is just a rank political prostitute looking to set up shop on the other end of the street.

This guy is a either a charlatan from the word go or just a ringer so that CW Bill Young doesn't have to face any real competion!

I would look at the independent minded candidates rather than this bought and sold dirtbag.

Hackworth: I have never seen anyone bumble a debate like you did. Did you forget you were going to a debate or are you as dumb as you appeared?

OMG - Hackworth is NOT a Republican plant. WE are really, really happy he jumped to your party.

So Mr. Hackworth is reporting a crime? Bribing a Federal candidate? So we can call the jail and find out if these developers, who have invested millions into his city have been arrested?

Hope the St. Pete Times does their job, and follows this story to make sure that these people are aware of the fact that Bob is making such allegations about them. Would be worth a call to find out their side of this story!

Must be something in the water. McCain also reports having giving back money too. Those Republicans sure ban together!

9:39am. The innocents who chopped our soldiers heads off, kids of ours, and drug their bodies through the streets. Shut the F up until you experience it yourself. But you never will because you have no backbone, you leave it to your heroes to do what has to be done. They also hung our soldiers from bridges after they burned them alive.
I am sick of hearing you and your war monger bul***it. You have absolutely no clue, so keep your big mouth shut, Susan and be glad the American Military has the guts to give you that freedom to keep your ugly hateful mouth and heart in service. Sadaam Hussein was a weapon of mass destruction himself. He buried hundreds of babies on top of their mothers after he slaughtered them like pigs. OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS found those graves and found those torture rooms and were still in use when our troops got there. You o.k. with those poor innocent people, meaning twisted sick men raping children then killing them. I have one thing to say to you.
Go to he**.
You are unpatriotic. move to Iraq. I am sure they would love to have you their, you sick twist.

Hey dude: isn't Hackworth a democrat, or didn't you see where he registered and is now ONE OF YOURS!

While the Times is looking into this "money for land deal" scandal, why don't they look into the fact that Max Linn might just have given Youngs ex the money to be the first donor in his campaign. Word is, she wouldn't use her own money but was happy "to help Max out" with publicity. Investigate Times. Lots of empty jail cells in Pinellas County.

[Jon Rambo]

"You are unpatriotic. move to Iraq. I am sure they would love to have you their, you sick twist."

It is always only a matter of time until one of these litle reich wingers comes up with a variation on the old 'if you don't like it leave' rant.

I have a better idea, why not just get rid of all of the fascists? We can just shut the country down for a few weeks and get rid of the rats once and for all.

After all, they are the ones who have so much disdain for the Constitution and the law.

[Dick Rhodes]

It's time for a change! On second thought, instead of an exclamation mark, make that a period.

[True Blue]

Where o where is the Hackworth campaign?? He seems to have disappeared since primary election day.