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

Iorio proposes task force on conservation

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio on Tuesday tried to deflect opposition to the city's franchise agrement with Tampa Electric Co., by promising to establish a task force to develop a "citywide energy conservation initiative" once the 25-year contract has been approved. Iorio made the promise in a memo to city council members and TECO president John Ramil. 

Iorio's offer, though, didn't impress City Council member Linda Saul-Sena, who said she still wants to see conservation, renewable energy and undergrounding wires included in the agreement. "Suggesting we wait until after the agreement is signed to start the conversation truly misses the point," she said.

The agreement appears headed for final approval by the City Council next week despite the strong opposition of environmental advocates and council members Saul-Sena, John Dingfelder and Mary Mulhern. They say the agreement is the best leverage they have to force Tampa Electric to be more green. Iorio and the utility say the contract legally can address only how much Tampa Electric has to pay to use the city right of way for its power lines. Read more about it here.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

Don't believe everything you hear in mayor's race

ST. PETERSBURG-- Local political circles are abuzz about who is running to replace Mayor Rick Baker, who leaves office a year from now because of term limits. But don't believe everything you hear.

Some of the potential candidates being discussed said they aren't interested.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said he is not running, no matter what you heard. He said he is busy enough with the state House.

Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch is also not running, despite many rumors to the contrary. But that doesn't mean he is ruling out a future bid.

"I’m a St. Petersburg native and I care deeply about the city and certainly at some point I will consider that," Welch said.

Former council member Kathleen Ford, another widely discussed name, said it's doubtful she will run.

Only two candidates have formally applied to run: activist Sharon Russ and Paul Congemi, a former builder.

But others have said they will run and will formally announce early next year. That group includes: City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett, former council member Bill Foster, Amscot executive Deveron Gibbons and real estate investor/philanthropist Scott Wagman.

Meanwhile, the may-be-candidates include: council member Leslie Curran, former council member Larry Williams and state Rep. Rick Kriseman, D. St. Petersburg. 

Kriseman's candidacy is especially being scrutinized because he and Bennett are friendly and share many supporters. But Kriseman said he's undecided.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

City Councilman Jim Kennedy to run for reelection

ST. PETERSBURG-- City council member Jim Kennedy wants to keep his seat.

Kennedy, who is up for reelection in November 2009, has not formally submitted his application to run for office, but he did reserve the domain name www.keepkennedy.com.

It will be Kennedy's first election. He said he has never been involved with a campaign other than to donate money.

It's unclear if anyone will challenge him.

Kennedy, a St. Petersburg lawyer, was appointed in October 2007 to represent District 2 after the death of council member John Bryan. Kennedy's term ends in January 2010.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

St. Pete: Mayor to march in Macy's Day Parade

ST. PETERSBURG -- If you watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, watch closely for Mayor Rick Baker about 11 a.m.

The mayor will be going to New York to carry the banner for St. Petersburg's Second Time Arounders marching band. The group, which has more than 500 members, consists of former high school, college and military marching band members. The ages of the band members range from 18 to 85.

The "Rounders" are among ten bands scheduled to appear in the parade and are expected to appear on television about 11 a.m. The parade will be broadcast live on NBC from 9 a.m. to noon.

If you're too busy stuffing your face, don't worry. You can see the band in person on Dec. 6, when they perform in the Santa Parade in downtown St. Petersburg.

UPDATE (4:25 p.m.): Baker is covering his own expenses.

--Times staff

St. Pete council member calls for native landscaping at City Hall

ST. PETERSBURG-- The city's many acres of grass are costing taxpayers a lot of green, city council member Karl Nurse said today.

His solution: Replace lawns and grassy medians with native shrubbery and encourage more residents to do the same, Nurse said in his first news conference since he was appointed to the City Council in April.

He's targeting lawns that aren't used for recreational activities, including the grass surrounding City Hall, which he said could be replaced with pine, flowers or other native plants that do not need to be regularly watered or maintained. As Florida struggles through a drought, water conservation will continue to be a pressing topic, Nurse said.

"We are going to end up growing what already grows here," Nurse said.

Nurse also called for changes to the city's landscaping code to promote Florida friendly lawns, including limitations on turf and areas with traditional irrigation systems.

Nurse will pitch his landscaping plan at a City Council meeting Dec. 4. If the council agrees to move forward, city staff would be directed to find out how much the lawn conversion would cost and how much it would save, Nurse said.

City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett, the only council member to attend the press conference other than Nurse, said he supported the effort.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Alstott gives thanks to St. Pete firefighters

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mike Alstott is donating Thanksgiving groceries to all 13 St. Petersburg stations today.

Alstott, his wife, Nicole, and their three children are delivering bags of groceries, pies and turkeys for the firefighters working Thanksgiving Day.

"It's a thank you for all you firefighters do,'' Alstott said. "We're glad to do it.''

Here's a photo (courtesy of the Mike Alstott Foundation) of Alstott and his family with firefighters this morning at the Master Fire Station, 455 8th St. S.

St. Pete Democratic Club needs new leader

ST. PETERSBURG-- Longtime political gadfly Jim Donelon is giving up politics and leaving his post as president of the the St. Petersburg Democratic Club.

Donelon says he is moving to Brooksville with a new girlfriend who asked him to give up politics. "50 years of politics is enough," he said.

A new president will be elected during the club's February meeting. Nominations are due by January. Candidates must be members of the club for at least 45 days before the election. The club works to elect local Democrats and further the Democratic platform.

Alex Haak, a former New Jersey mayor and a sometime local candidate, said he wants to replace Donelon.

Local Democrats, he said, need to be better organized.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Karl Nurse calls for water conservation

ST. PETERSBURG-- City council member Karl Nurse will call for greater water conservation today during his first news conference since he was appointed to office in April.

Nurse will discuss landscaping options to reduce water and call on the city to set the example and reduce its water use. The move comes days after Nurse's green commitment was questioned by some environmental activists oppssed to the city's recent annexation of a commercial district in Tierra Verde.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Nelson Apartments at 430 5th Street N, which Nurse owns.

Ray Wunderlich, of the Florida Native Plant Society, and Bruce Turley, of the Wilcox Nursery, will also be there.
          
-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Justice backs McLauchlan for Pinellas DEC chair

State Sen. Charlie Justice has endorsed Ramsay McLauchlan to lead the Pinellas County Democratic Party.

"I support Ramsay because I trust him and know that he wants to grow the party by focusing on organization, fund raising and a strong message," Justice wrote in an e-mail message. "I know he has a plan to unify the party and build upon the incredible energy created from the Obama campaign and volunteers."

McLauchlan, who has a lengthy political resume, moved to Florida in 2003. He joined the local party this year.

From 1987 until 1990, he was executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. From 1989 until 1993, he was an Alderman in Nashua. A financial analyst and writer for the Home Shopping Network, McLauchlan lives with his wife in Madeira Beach.

Also contending for the chairman's post in the Dec. 4 election are party treasurer Mark Hanisee and Jack Killingsworth, who lost a contest for Supervisor of Elections earlier this month to incumbent Republican Deb Clark.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer