Times Ed Board: Bennett should know better

Jamie Bennett needs to understand the distinction between acting as a member of the St. Petersburg City Council and acting as a candidate for mayor. When he uses his campaign manager to offer tickets to the city's taxpayer-financed suite at Tropicana Field, it's clear he needs a little schooling on the difference.

As a member of the council, Bennett is entitled to use of the suite for Tampa Bay Rays games. Typically, arrangements go through the City Council office. Because mayoral candidates cannot use taxpayer resources to specifically benefit their campaigns, a candidate who also holds public office should tread carefully.

Bennett says that wasn't his intent when his volunteer campaign manager Peter Schorsch e-mailed several neighborhood association presidents to invite them to the suite later this month. "I've got Peter riding around with me all day," Bennett said. "I asked him to make some calls."

Schorsch says he helps Bennett with many things, not just his campaign. Both men miss the point. A conflict of interest — in appearance or in reality — is a serious issue for a mayoral candidate. Having the campaign manager invite potential supporters or contributors to a publicly financed stadium suite sends the wrong message. Bennett has been around City Hall long enough to know better.

Comments

[Not Surprised]

Yes, Bennett should know better, but he doesn't. That just about says all we need to know.

[~]

I feel for Bennett. Since the local DINO’s sh-t on him – after years of loyal a**kissing – he’s stuck with lil’ Pete, and lil’ Pete will kill any chance Jamie has.

Like I’ve always said, Jamie… when they’re done using you, they’re done using you. Tough lesson to learn, but a valuable lesson learned nonetheless.

[Pelican Pete]

"Bennett has been around City Hall long enough to know better"

You would think so, but since he has proven he doesn't...I think Bennett has been around City Hall long enough!

[tom]

Politics as usual

[Janie]

Boring!!! Please give me something intelligent to think about. Who cares what Peter does?

[Really?]

Anyone starting to notice this whole story is turning into a positive for Bennett and Co. Look at all the comments on the online version of the story -- they're 3 to 1 for Bennett. This was much ado about nothing. And to give the tickets to the Carter Woodson Center and neighborhood presidents was a great idea.

[Doesn't the Times have something better to do]

The whole dang Legislature is falling apart and you devote this much attention to ticketgate. Oh no, Bennett gave tickets to neighborhood presidents!!! Stop the presses.

[james]

city council, state legislator... incompetence and lack of ethics is the same on any scale...

[TRUE BLUE]

Jamie, just wait for the ethics complaint. Should be resolved around August 25th. Say goodnight, Jamie.

[Not an ethics complaint...]

Oh no, please don't. The possibility of a paper cut as we wipe our butt with it is terrifying.

[The rise and fall and rise of Peter (and subsequent fall of Bennett in a not unconnected fashion)]

So Peter's been promoted to campaign manager now?

[The truth]

Peter always was the campaign manager. Edwards is involved with too many other campaigns to be full-time on one campaign.

[Peter Schorch = Deverson Gibbons's secret weapon]

I hear that Jim Greer is going to pay Schorsch to work on a lot of top Democratic campaigns in 2010.

[mkp]

Time to retire Bennet - time for CHANGE

[haha]

Let's not forget the crimes Bennett and his syndicate have initiated against the people!

[Peter]

Didn't POWW, led by Hal Freedman, hire Mr. Schorsch in support of POWW's petition drive? What is Hal Freedman's connection to Schorsch? Something to be looked into.