Mike Atwater: It's Deveron Gibbons' time for mayor

St. Petersburg restaurateur Mike Atwater, who's helped elect everybody from Jeb Bush to St. Pete mayors Rick Baker and Dave Fischer, is mighty fired up about Deveron Gibbons for mayor. So fired up, that no other candidates for any office, should come begging to get their campaign signs placed at his place.

“Leading up to the primary this corner, 895 22nd Ave S, this cafe, is totally exclusively putting up signs for Deveron Gibbons... We need someone who was born here, who was raised in the streets, who understands people and business. He’s young, has fresh ideas, worked with two great mayors – Rick Baker and Dave Fischer – and knows how to surround himself with great people,” said Atwater, whose endorsement for years has been among the most coveted in St. Petersburg politics. “It’s time for the Old Northeast community to spread the wealth, and for this great city to break down some barriers and walls. Deveron is not just about black people, he’s not just about Midtown, Deveron is about unifying this entire, great city”

Adam Smith, Times Political Editor

"If we allow him to lose this race, it's saying that everything we as older brothers and sisters preached - work hard, go off and get a good education, and bring those great talents back home - we lied to him," said Atwater. "When it gets down closer to the endn of this race I think i'm going to have every African-American and every white American understand that Deveron Gibbons is our guy."

 

Comments

[len]

Say what you want, Gibbons is lining up the money, the people, the organization. He wants this.

People listen and respect Atwater at the grass roots level and on both sides of cental avenue. His contributions to so many successful candidates is well known.

In my opinion, it is one thing to get a "big name" to support you, another to get someone that will WORK FOR YOU.

Big win of the day. And, amazing words spoken by Mike. Very comforting to hear.

[a bad feeling]

Deveron is about Deveron.

[Philosopher]

Gibbons is NOTHING more than the establishment candidate, that's why he is so close to lobbyists in Tallahassee. Real change is needed and Gibbons is not it.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Gibbons is nothing more than a water boy for radical right-wing republicans.

He must suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.

[Joe Cool]

He is 100% bought and paid for by corporate interests because they are financing his campaign. He won't do anything for the less fortunate.

[Dumbass Adam Smith]

Adam...go ask Mikes brother, CookieMan what he thinks about that uncle tom Deveron.

[Lady]

I can't wait to put up the Deveron signs around my property!
Nevermind the nay sayers :)

[Alright!]

Mike is the man and he is supporting the next Mayor! Way to go Mike & Deveron

[Len at 5:38]

Mr. Gibbons has lined up nothing and is not an aligner. This campaign and this endorsement were long ago puzzled out by big Mel because his belief is that the voters do not know any better and there is too much to be gained from winning elections like this to leave any move to chance.

Mike might run a good cafe, but the candidates he endorses all come from the same neighborhood, not midtown, Northeast, or downtown - they come from Mr. Sembler's 'neighborhood'.

What does Mike say about locking up AMSCOT employees in cages for 8+ hours per day without breaks?

What does Mike say about Mr. Gibbons giving a college president a $60 thousand raise from student scholarship moneys so that the president can 'afford' his life insursance payments on top of a $400 salary? (btw prez max contributor to Gibbons campaign)

What does Mike say about Mr. Gibbons role in the housing board fiascos, not attending to business there?

What does Mike say about the business tax deductions on the 7000 sq. ft. mansion in midtown?

Shame on you Mike for buying votes with good food and a grin, that is no better than buying votes the way big Mel does....maybe that's where you learned.

[TRUE BLUE]

I'll take some collard greens with that endorsement and then pile on the B.S.

[My Man Deveron]

I Love it! The more my man Deveron "piles" on the positive news and endorsements the more the wack jobs get on here and spew idiocy. I hear fear from opponents and the loons. Keep up your lies and jealousy we all see it for what it is.

Gibbons for Mayor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blogging From the City Planning Department]

'My Man Deveron' is a hackneyed way to refer to a political candidate considering your level of education and position.

'Loons' and 'wack jobs'? How about serious voters who want Mr. Gibbons, a young, very inexperienced, but well-connected politico to address issues and possible problems up front?

He is not a godsend just because he was born in St. Pete - see "The Manchurian Candidate" for example. He is inplay only because of his Mel Sembler-Mitt Romney-Rick Baker-Carl Kurrler-Charlie Crist oversight and preselection and NOTHING else so far.

That is why Ken Welch is not running by the way, another county employee who answers to Carl Kuttler and the rest of the list above.

Let's get Pulitzer Prize winning journalism going on this mayoral race, not puff pieces like who was just voted off Idol Dancing, or Survivor.

[Blogging From the City Planning Department???]

There were supposed to be three Question marks after the name in the last post.

Here they are: ? ? ?

[LPO]

Deveron ROCKS. You bashers are shakin in yer boots. You know it. Sitting her posting won't win you ANYTHING. You will all turn out like Peter Dorshbag...sad, lonely, disturbed, and BROKE.

[y]

Word is, Peter Schorche is going chapter 11. He is broke. Is this true?

['sayin]

51 more “business supporters” simply means 51 more hacks pimping the Deveron is our savior rhetoric. Has Mel and the Boys anointed Gibbons as St. Pete’s next Tax-Dollar-To-Corporate-Interest Facilitator?

What does the Boy Wonder intend to do about Raytheon?
What does the Boy Wonder intend to do about the Uhurus?
What does the Boy Wonder intend to do about the homeless?
What does the Boy Wonder intend to do about the rampant corruption within the Housing Authority?
What does the Boy Wonder intend to do about jobs?

What does the Boy Wonder intend to do when someone actually asks a substantive question… hand them a check from his outside special interest account… err… campaign account?

[TF]

MR.GIBBONS IF CHOSEN WHAT CAN THE CITY EXPECT FROM U.I HOPE GOOD LEADERSHIP THE CITY NEEDS A GREAT MAKEOVER AND SINCE U ARE RUNNING FOR MAYOR WHY HAVEN'T SOME OF THE PEOPLE MET U IS IT JUST ABOUT U I HOPE NOT.GET OUT AND MEET POOR PEOPLE NOT JUST BIGWIGS.FOLKS OF ST.PETERSBURG WANTS THIER CITY BACK FROM ALL THE CRIMES

[Go D]

And the hating crazies continue. No matter what, we can rely on them for a non stop stream of conspiracy theories and wacked out posts. Keep going Deveron it's obvious the opposition is running scared.

[Stop Foster Go Deveron]

Listen to our Party Leadership - everyone in the GOP should be backing Deveron. Only the conservative crazies are with Foster.

[Go D working for Baker or Sembler ???]

Answer the substantive questions, these are not wacked out posts.

Why should taxpayers subsidize a 7000 sq ft bachelor pad as a business deduction for a predatory lender?

Why should students lose scholarships in these tough economic times because giving a $60 grand raise to someone making over $400 grand is good judgment on Mr. Gibbons part - or is it political payback?

Why should a mayor be closely tied to a call center in Oldsmar that squeezes college students far and wide to 'consolidate' their loans and get family members on the hook as co-signers?

Why isn't there more serious journalism looking into these issues especially when the paper has annointed him the heir apparent?

Answer some real questions - don't throw off on legitimate issues with typical 'it's above him' dismissals.

[Who's Zoomin' Who]

A spokesman for Gibbons' campaign declined to comment....or so it seems as ususal.

[-]

Informed political debate is fine and good, but I, for one, refuse to address someone who is obviously a campaign staffer manipulating an avenue for public discussion in order to advance a candidate's campaign.

[How Romneyesque!!!!!!]

What a dodge!

[Joe Cool]

Gibbons is an expert at accepting campaign donations; but why doesn't he tell the people of St. Pete where he stands on the issues?

[Cliff Gephart]

Thats an impresive endorsement.

Now I have eaten at Atwaters and the food is good, and yes Mr. Atwater might be a very nice man.

I am still trying to figure out why anyone would base a decision for a candidate on what a restaurant owner says.

Why is this even news? this is the most ridiculous posting of political news yet.

I heard a guy that golfs is endorsing Bennett, I heard a woman who knits is endorsing Ford, I heard that a woman who has foster children is endorsing Foster. When is the Times, TBT, Creative Loafing going to dig deep and find the dirt, like we want to hear.

If I were Adam Smith and I wasted time to post that piece, I would be ashamed of myself. His time would have been more valuable on the street corner on Sunday selling news papers.

Does anyone realize the severity of what we are dealing with here. This city, along with the nation is in a crisis that will not go away soon and we need to be damn sure we elect the best candidate for the job.

So from now on, lets make a rule. If the endorsement comes from some far away land we shouldn't care, if the endorsement comes from someone who is supposed to be important we shouldn't care, if the endorsement comes from someone with there hand so far up the butt of the candidate that you see their middle finger when the candidate talks we shouldn't care.

I got an idea maybe we shouldn't give a rats butt who endorses who, maybe we should do our own fact finding mission and elect the person who will serve us best and not the one who is the most likable, that is only going to cause this great city more trouble. there is a reason the voting process is a private thing, so you have the opportunity to vote your conscience. When you vote do the right thing not the popular thing, and if you go against your friends, family or others just lie they would never know.

Heres an idea we should each endorse the candidate we feel would really be the best one for the city and that endorsement is called "a vote".

Sorry for the long rant this got me going.

Cliff Gephart

p.s. I am endorsing..... even if I told you it really shouldn't matter, what should matter is the content of the candidate, not how many friends he has.