Peter Schorsch aligns with Jamie Bennett mayoral campaign

ST. PETERSBURG-- City Council member Jamie Bennett has a reputation for being Mr. Nice Guy, so his decision to turn his mayoral campaign over to some of Tampa Bay's political bad boys has launched plenty of talk.

His campaign manager is Barry Edwards, who was convicted of stealing computer equipment from legislative offices. Barclay Harless, a former University of South Florida student body president who resigned after being investigated for on-campus drinking, also recently joined his staff.

And here's the latest: Peter Schorsch, a former rising star whose short career as a campaign consultant ended when he was convicted of grand theft, has signed on as a volunteer.

"He stepped forward to volunteer, and we will take any volunteers," Bennett said.

Bennett described his campaign helpers as politically savvy, intelligent men looking to redeem themselves.

"I'm fully aware of what people have done in the past," he said. "I will certainly be very careful about not having people contour who and what I am, but everyone deserves a second chance."

Schorsch, Bennett said, "has told me he has either paid his debt to society or is paying his debt to society, and I've been told he is quite smart in politics."

Edwards, Bennett said, proved himself as state Rep. Darryl Rouson's campaign manager.

The men helped come up with Bennett's campaign slogan, One St. Petersburg.

Schorsch, who regularly blogs about the mayoral race, said he was initially reluctant to get involved in the 2009 election because of his past, but Bennett's progressive stance on homelessness and other issues won him over.

Bennett said there was an upside to all the babble about his campaign staff.

"Thank God it's all coming out early," he said. "We have months of campaigning, and we want to focus on the issues... maybe getting some of this stuff out of the way now will help us do that."

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

*

Comments

Still, one wonders if Bennett is pleased that someone with a somewhat notorious past is getting attention for associating themselves with his campaign on a volunteer basis.

Most volunteers are rather more circumspect in the volunteer activities, rather than being the basis for news - and that's usually how the campaigns like it (this article, for example, had a lot of stuff about people associated with Bennett's campaign, but nothing about Bennett's positions or accomplishments).

[saintpetersblog]

I just never thought my old boss Jack and I would be in stories next to each other.

[devinharms]

Jeez, you guys are hitting Schorsch again. Give him credit for paying what he owed, manning up and getting back in the game. If you were in a political dogfight wouldn't you want him on your side? I would.

I am appalled that Mr. Bennett would surround himself with not just one bad boy, but 3. Has he no sense of decent judgment???

We all know the saying:

"Birds of a feather, flock together."

[Not in District 53]

Thank you Kevin King, I mean 1:05, for your input.

A look at Schorsch’s political instincts (from his own blog):

“we both think Berfield will beat Farkas in the primary (thank God!) and then deny Charlie Justice any justice in the general”

“As for H-52, I don't doubt that Cappelli will beat Heller, if Heller wins the primary. But he won't.”

“Heller's weakness with hardcore Dems -- the kind of Dems who will be there on Primary Day -- will only be further exacerbated by McCallum's support from the teachers, unions, trial lawyers and Emily's List -- the kind of Dems who will be there on Primary Day. McCallum is then seen as a giant-killer and she goes on to beat Cappelli.”

“I don't see how Janet Long, who is struggling to raise money, according to an internal e-mail that was inadvertently sent to me, beats Dottie Reeder, who isn't struggling and has a better resume and higher name ID than Long. I'd love to see Janet win, but her message is amateur-hour at best and she doesn't have enough local consulting support (Jesus, this area needs a real Democratic consultant) to out-strategize the GOP.”

“For reasons beyond me, former USF dean Bill Heller intends to file today or tomorrow to run for House District 52, challenging established front-runner Liz McCallum for the Democratic nomination.

Someone please tell me how a 70 year old man is going to outwork the GOP candidate? How is Heller going to walk door-to-door in August? Why do we want someone in office who will be 78 at the end of his possible term?”

“It was about a year ago, when I first spoke with Screven Watson and then met Senator Smith, that I immediately knew he was going to be the Democratic candidate for Governor. Eveyone that was supporting Smith at that point had known him for a while, so they can't say they "jumped on the bandwagon"; they were the bandwagon. By supporting him -- an easy decision after you hear Rod Smith and Jim Davis speak in the same room -- I was the first person to jump on the Rod Smith bandwagon. I organized event for him before anyone outside of the Florida Senate even knew who he was.”

“The prospect of a seventy-year old academian walking door-to-door in the Florida heat should not be welcomed by local Democrats eager to win this seat back from the GOP. Democrats need a vigorous, youthful candidate capable of outworking the sure-to-be-better-funded Republican candidate. Wait a second, the Democrats already have a charismatic, vigorous candidate capable of outworking Angelo Cappelli. Her name is Liz McCallum and its time the local Democratic establishment stops flirting with prospective candidates and rally behind the candidate who almost picked off Frank Farkas in 2004 and, with sufficient help from state and local Democrats, can win this seat in 2006.”

[saintpetersblog]

So I was wrong about some races. Let the person who was right about political race they've commented on or worked on come forward...but that person doesn't exist.

We all make mistake and we can either choose to learn from them or we can surrender our humanity. I chose the former.

Now I'm wondering if Peter has been right about any races.

[saintpetersblog]

I did predict Matt Santos would beat Arnold Vinnick.

This is not about Mr. Schorsch. It's about Councilman Bennett. Leave the kid alone.

[Dump Charlie]

Nice hat trick, Bennett.

Three scammers, one campaign.

Attention all Pinellas County Crooks & Con Artists: You now have a new home.

Better yet, apply to City Hall for a job in the parallel evil universe where Bennett wins this campaign, which he won't.

Peter, I won't deny your smarts, nor that you have or are paying your debts, but you may be wearing too many hats now. When the story is about you, and not the candidate, you begin to look like Mitch Kates (who will probably get more press than his client, Wagman). If you really want to help Jamie, think about a lower profile, which I don't really think is your style (and that is not criticism). Your blog, for instance, if it is about the St. Pete mayor's race, will immediately be suspect (if people didn't feel that way already). Still, a man has to make a living. If this is your way back, then good luck.

[screamin eagle]

The big question here is why would Bennett hire these 3? Why?

[Campaign Manager]

This is, or should be, about Jamie Bennett - not Peter Schorsch.

All we have established so far is that a kid with some problems in his background has volunteered to stuff envelopes for a local candidate.

He is not advising on policy, he is not being paid by the campaign - he is a VOLUNTEER.

Volunteers are wonderful people who give of their time to help people and causes they believe in, but let's not let this get out of hand. If Schorsch were on the payroll of his campaign, it would, arguable, be a different matter. But he's not. He's an unpaid VOLUNTEER.

Did James Bennett not read this article, where the CIRCUIT JUDGE FRANK QUESADA was asked whether a candidate should employ Schorsch:

No one running for office should be "that stupid," Quesada said.

"That is my opinion," the judge said. "He has a history of dishonesty

CAMPAIGN MANAGER:

Would you want someone who has ripped off multiple candidates and charged with grand theft working in your campaign office? I'm sure this guy doesnt work for free - doesnt seem like his style.

Hows the saying go - "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, not gonna get fooled again"?

I'm all for giving second chances to people - whether it's Schorsch, Edwards, or Harless. But I'd also think there are probably some pretty smart and talented individuals that haven't gotten a first chance that wouldn't be bringing this kind of negative press to your campaign.

What is stupid about Bennnett's quote of everyone deserving a second chance (which, btw, is right - everyone does) is that this guy Scorsch has had many chances judgeing by the article. Bennett would fit in better here with Buddy Dyer than St. Pete. I LIKE ST.PETE!

This is a big day for Scott Wagman's Campaign.

[saintpetersblog]

Now Im going to play tennis for a bit...keep it contained until I get back.

When Bennett files a disclosure, someone should see if he paid Schorsch for anything.

Why is Bennett running a halfway house or rehab? They want to "redeem" themselves? Do it somewhere ELSE!

Are you sure he's "volunteering" Mr. Bennett? Why is your website developed by Scorsch's old business partner? Coincidence?