Blair claims Beckner lied, vows legal action

Photo: Brian Blair and his wife Toni. [Michael C. Weimar | Times]

TAMPA -- Departing Hillsborough County commissioner Brian Blair accused his opponent in last week's elections of lying about him in campaign fliers and said he intends to pursue legal action against him.

Blair, a Republican, claimed today that Democrat Kevin Beckner falsely accused him of giving himself a pay raise, funneling taxpayer dollars to the cleanup of his private lake and supporting the Confederate flag.

In an unusual news conference at County Center ostensibly called to thank his supporters and tout his record, Blair told reporters he is weighing his legal options. Afterward, he said he is mulling whether to file a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission contending Beckner violated a law against lying on the stump that could result in his removal from office. During the news conference, he accused Beckner of libel and slander.

"We intend to find out where the line is and if he crossed it. through both the Elections Commission and an attorney," Blair said afterward. "I think it will be a good thing for Hillsborough County and future voters."

Beckner's claim that Blair gave himself a pay raise stemmed from Blair's objections to freezing his pay and lowering his $600 car allowance last year. Blair did vote to steer money toward a chain of lakes that includes one he shares with several neighbors, but the amount spent was less than Beckner claimed. Linking him to the Confederate flag was presumably based on Blair's support with other commissioners of awarding proclamations to a groups that celebrate their confederate heritage.

In a backhanded analogy explaining his interest in defining what's proper on the stump, Blair said of Beckner, who is gay, "Can I say that his boyfriend gave him AIDS? I don't know." He went on to say that is not true and that he wouldn't say that.

Beckner defeated Blair Nov. 4 by a 10-point margin. A handful of activists who caught wind of the news conference toted moving boxes, volunteering to assist Blair with his departure. Beckner will be sworn in next week. Some wore placards "Nobody likes a sore loser."

-- Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer

Comments

So clueless buffoon remains accurate?

[Dr_Dug]

If he had done his job he'd still be in office.... His Bad!

[There's no crying in politics!]

What a cry baby! Did Blair also cry after every wrestling match?

[Mike W]

Sounds like some sour grapes to me. And Blair didn't "authorize" the phone campaign against Beckner the last day of the campaign... RIGHT!!!!

[Gay Agenda]

There is no Gay Agenda.
http://www.watermarkonline.com/content.php?cid=4444

[Carl]

Brian, as a republican that voted against you give it a rest, we voted you out because we did not want you there any more. Anyone could had beaten you as I voted against you, not for your opponent.

[Tony]

What a shame. The fairy guy is an out and out liar. Too many gays are getting into goverment. Soon they will try to turn all our kids gay.

[Gay Agenda]

There is no Gay Agenda

http://www.watermarkonline.com/content.php?cid=4444

So long to TaxWatch's pet commish. Maybe now we can start to really clean up the environment and regulate developers.

Even toni thinks he's a jerk, just look at the photo!

[Lori]

Go away already. The people voted, they don't want you. Quit being a baby and at least leave with some shred of dignity for yourself.

Blair is a bully who finally got his walking papers from the fed-up electorate.

I hope he keeps crying to the press, it will ruin any chance he has to ever make a comeback.

What a sissy.

[Blair - we voted you out, go away]

We voted you out because you are a bad person. Just go away. You wouldn't win a suit any way.

[SoggyBottomBoy]

Crybaby Blair just continues to waste our time and humiliate himself.

[Blair is an idiot]

Blair, I voted you out because you weren't doing a good job. I don't care what your opponent said about you. Also, even brining up his partner and AIDS is horrible. If anything, I think Beckner should sue you.

[Tony]

I don't have an issue with voting him out, in fact we should vote them all out every couple of yrs. But to bring someone in who likes comming in the back door on everything is a bad idea. We need a man who does things face to face, not sneeks up and nails ya from behind. Someone who knows what is is to have family, not just hang with "buddies"

[mae]

Aren't we glad we voted this guy out!! Stop embarrassing yourself, Brian.

Brian Blair, how long has it been since you've beaten your wife?

[Tony]

So he brought up AIDS, what's the problem? Does he have aids? Do the men he sleeps with have aids? Does God hate people like him? Is he going to die from aids? Why all the AIDS talk?

[Tony]

How long has it been since she did not do the dishes? What do you tell a woman with 2 black eyes? Nuttin, you already told her twice.....

[Citizens for Ethics]

Brian Blair is nothing more than a con artist. Is his legal team reviewing his options the same ones that filed the frivolous lawsuit against Carrabba's?

The race wasn't even close and for Blair to think that we voted him out was because of only these few examples he has sited.

Brian Blair: We voted FOR Beckner because he has a vision and can complete a coherent sentence.

Don't go away mad, Brian - JUST GO AWAY!

You lost by 10%. Get over it already. You didn't even compete for your seat and now you are just mad that you lost.

I'm a Republican who voted for Beckner because he was out in the community showing he cares about the area. I sent a letter to all County Commissioners, and they all responded (even those who don't represent my area)except for Brian Blair. I sent the same letter to Kevin Beckner's campaign email, and his campaign responded. Beckner won my vote that way.

[SoggyBottomBoy]

Don't get a lawyer, Brian. Get a clue. Get a life. Have some dignity. Show a little self-respect. You lost. Quit whining. Man up. Be gracious. Show some class. Move on. Suck it up. Rub some dirt on it: Maybe some of that taxpayer-funded lake bottom...soggy though it may be.

[Winner Takes All]

Blair is such a joke. This guy violated election laws and is now searching for a way to pay someone back for telling the truth??? Does he think we would re-elect him?

This is all fluff as we all know that Blair plans on running against Victor Crist, who is term limited in his current state senate sit, for Norman's county wide commission seat. In turn, Norman will run for Crist's senate seat.

What no one has told any of these nimrods is that we are going to do what we did before: defeat Blair.

BRIAN AND TONI: Get the hell out of here. 50,000 voters went with Beckner over you.