Have a drink with Jamie Bennett

August ripe with mayoral forums

ST. PETERSBURG- Still don't know who you are voting for?

A series of mayoral forums are scheduled in August.

Next week, City Hall hosts a 7 p.m. forum Thursday, the first mayoral forum to be televised on the city's channel. There is also a City Council candidate forum Tuesday at 7 p.m. The League of Women Voters will organize both events.

The NAACP hosts a forum August 10 at the Hospice Center at 3050 1st Av S at 6 p.m.

The candidates have been invited to a forum August 11 organized by the Disston Heights Civic Association. The event will be held at the St. Petersburg Community Church at 4501 30th Avenue N at 7 p.m.

The candidates are scheduled to attend a forum at the Shore Acres Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m. at 4230 Shore Acres Blvd NE on August 17.

On Aug. 18, the Wildwood Heights Neighborhood Association is hosting a forum about Midtown at 6 p.m. at the Wildwood Recreation Center at 1000 28th Street S. Residents can meet with the candidates at 5:30.

The St. Petersburg Times and Bay News 9 will host a forum August 19 at the Palladium Theater at 5th Avenue N at 7 p.m.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

PBA explains its endorsements in St. Petersburg election

ST. PETERSBURG- The Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association union interviewed most of the candidates for public office before it announced its endorsements, president Mark Marland said.

The candidates also were asked to fill out a 10-question survey.

In the mayoral race, the union endorsed Bill Foster. Foster helped the union get Tasers and take home cars as a council member, Marland said. Foster's promise to "sweat the small stuff," reroute extra city dollars to the police department, attend staff meetings and loosen the city's chase policy so police cruisers can pursue suspects also helped his case, Marland said.

"We are not looking to chase everyone," said Marland. "We are looking to have the flexibility to assess risk versus the reward."

Deveron Gibbons' new mailer

Effective. But one could argue that Deveron Gibbons is implying, wrongly, that Rick Baker and Dave Fischer are endorsing him for St. Pete mayor.

Adam Smith, Times Political Editor

A scarcity of community leaders in St. Pete?

ST. PETERSBURG — Quick, name five of the most important community leaders in St. Petersburg.

"If you had asked me that question 10 years ago, I could have rattled off the names,'' responded St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Larry Williams after a pregnant pause. "I don't think that's true anymore."

St. Petersburg faces a leadership vacuum, and it's underscored by the looming retirements of Carl Kuttler at St. Petersburg College and the lackadaisical, wide-open mayor's race under way.

Story here.

Wengay Newton takes up hot dog battle

ST. PETERSBURG-- City Council member Wengay Newton has asked the City Council to review the city's push cart ordinance.

"We have a lot of ordinances that are old and outdated so we are always looking to revisit them," Newton said.

That doesn't necessarily mean Newton supports late night treats, but he said he would be open to discussing it.

"You have to realize this is opening Pandora's Box," he said. "This would affect vendors citywide, not just downtown."

Vendor Joy McGhee was issued a $200 citation Friday for selling hot dogs past 9 p.m. The push cart ordinance limits the hours of operations from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Deveron Gibbons mum on St. Pete Pride

ST. PETERSBURG- Mayoral hopeful Deveron Gibbons dodged a question about whether he would attend St. Pete Pride or sign the annual proclamation recognizing the event, one of the largest events in St. Petersburg.

"What does that matter?" he said, then added, "I believe in equal rights."

Gibbons declined to comment further.

Gibbons skipped St. Pete Pride's mayoral forum in June.

Candidates who attended were asked that same question.

Scott Wagman, Jamie Bennett and Kathleen Ford pledged their full support.

Larry Williams said he would not attend or sign because of his "traditional beliefs." Bill Foster, who said he attended once before, said he won't sign or attend Pride as long as it continues to be so adult-themed. Paul Congemi said he opposes the event.

Candidates Ed Helm, John Warren and Richard Eldridge also did not attend the St. Pete Pride forum. They could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Campaign treasurer's reports trickle in

ST. PETERSBURG-- Will corporate excutive Deveron Gibbons maintain his fundraising lead in the mayoral race?  Will business owner Scott Wagman break out of second place?

Today's the day to find out.

Third quarter campaign treasurer’s reports are due today. At 24 days, it was the shortest fundraising period so far.

Only a handful of candidates had turned reports as of Friday morning.

PBA endorses Foster, Nurse, Corsetti and Smith

ST. PETERSBURG- Newcomer Stephen Corsetti scored an endorsement from the union that represents the city's police officers over City Council member Jim Kennedy in the District 2 race.

The Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association also endorsed council member Karl Nurse. He faces student Derrick Frohne and Vel Thompson, a former city employee, in the District 6 race.

Retired police officer Joe Smith got the union's support in the District 5 race. He faces Angela Rouson, a Pinellas County Housing Authority commissioner, and Steve Kornell, a Pinellas County Schools social worker.

The union had previously announced its endorsement of mayoral hopeful Bill Foster, a former council member.

The union plans to release endorsements in the District 4 and District 8 races soon, said president Mark Marland.

Marland said he would discuss the endorsements Friday. Come back here tomorrow to learn why the union choose these candidates.

Crist, Atwater to speak at Hillsborough Reagan Day Dinner

Senate president Jeff Attwater and Gov. Charlie Crist will be the featured speakers at the Hillsborough County GOP's first-ever Reagan Day Dinner on Oct. 9 at the Pepin Hospitality Center. Atwater is a candidate for CFO; Crist is running for the U.S.Senate.

In a news release, Atwater got top-billing as the keynote speaker, with Crist listed as the special guest speaker. The local party's first-ever Reagan Day Dinner does not replace the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, which will be held in the spring.

For more information, call (813) 507-5176 or go to www.hcrp.org.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer