Pinellas Realtor Organization endorses City Council incumbents, Angela Rouson

Here's the press release:

Clearwater, FL (July 15, 2009) – The Board of Directors of the Pinellas Realtor® Organization (PRO) today released its recommendations of candidates for election in the following St. Petersburg City Council races:
 
District  2:  James Kennedy
Distinct 4:  Leslie Curran
District  5: Angela Rouson
District  6:  Karl Nurse
District 8:   Jeff Danner
 
Representing over 5,600 members, the Pinellas Realtor® Organization is one of the Tampa Bay area’s largest professional trade associations. The organization advances and promotes the real estate profession through professional development programs, government affairs and political advocacy and maintains a high standard of conduct by real estate professionals through professional standards, training and administration.

UPDATE: Spokesman Mathias Bergendahl said candidates filled out a survey and came in for an interview. They were asked about the Hometown Democracy effort, affordable housing and private property rights, among other things. 

The organization will screen the final two mayoral candidates after the primary.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[saintpetersblog]

If you wanted to hear about this endorsement first, I invite you to read saintpetersblog1.blogspot.com. Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city.

[double yawn.]

yawn.

[that's the spirit, peter!]

the sociopath is trying to pick up the buzz's 15 readers to add to his 25. nice!

[Pelican Pete]

Hey Peter,

Did Wagman hire you to coordinate his new sign stratigy?

[Not a fan of Angela]

Interesting. I wonder who Angela sent to speak for her. The Invisible Candidate. Come out Angela.

[that's the spirit, peter!]

haha, now THAT was funny.

[No on Angela]

I wonder how many sweetheart deals the members of the Realtors organization had when A. was on the housing authority. Payback?

[Mayonaise]

5:54 NAILED IT!!!! The PRO is a bunch of greedy hacks who are in part responsible for the econimic problem we face today in Pinellas. If they back these people, it's a clue as to who NOT to vote for.

[matt]

Isn't this the same group that is closely affiliated with the likes of Nancy Riley, Ben Friedlander, Frank Gregoire, Lucile Casey? And now they've got Bergendahl working for them??? With that baffoon Guiberson at the helm!!! Wow, it's like a central clearinghouse for losers. Suprised they don't hire Peter S. to run their political program. he... he... he... How funny.

[No Kornell]

Anybody but Kornell.

[jack]

I happen to be a local REALTOR, and I am also involved in local politics. They are an interesting, very secretive group over there, that's for sure. It's government and political program is a pitiful laughing stock of a mess. They are ALWAYS asking, begging for money for the PAC.

The PRO seems to have a noticeable amount of political information on the public area of their website - information about the RE-PAC and candidate support information.

Isn't that a violation of state election law? I thought interest groups need to keep that information under password protected access - that it is for members only, not for public consumption.

They also have candidate recommendation information posted. When a group is encouraging their members to support a certain candidate or group of candidates, that information is for the members only and should not be posted publicly on a website or in a magazine. Is that not correct? Would that not be considered "the furtherance of a candidacy?" Could they not lose their "non-profit" status (I believe they are a non-profit)?

[Don't you want to be a criminal too]

The PRO backs Rouson? I will never buy or sell a house with a realtor again. Don't they see the corruption?

[Political ad approved and paid for by a politician we own.]

PLEASE… let us get back to building speculation property and flipping! My trophy wife is threatening to leave with my Hummer. Besides, if we going to totally destroy our economy; let’s do it right!

Love,

The PRO

[Jean from St Pete]

Is anyone surprised that ALL of the current City Council Members (and the State Rep's wife) were endorsed by the PRO? Build baby build!

[Banjo-playing, crook-eyed, bald kid sitting atop the Welcome to Pinellas sign]

That’s Pinellas County for ya!... the political version of Deliverance. This filthy little county is so inbred; your father is most likely the father of your father.

Pie-nellus taxumpayers gots purdy mouths… Squeeeeeeeelllll!

[True Blue]

Let's not change the City Council. They give us everything we want.

[Cliff Gephart]

In the summer of '07 I had the delightful opportunity to discuss the future with the Pinellas Board of Realtors. I clearly explained to them about the impending real estate bubble bursting and how it was going to effect their organization. Not one of those individuals could believe that the gravey train was gone, that the sun was setting and that their organization was going to be nearly cut in half.

I feel like several of their choices for city council are good ones, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

As an organization that is supposed to be more informed about their industry then john q public, they aren't. The Realtor community is throwing the same darts as we all are. These people are no smarter than you or I so don't let them influence your decision. Do you own research, go talk with the candidates at the many forums, mixers and debates and then make a decision that is yours and yours alone.

Cliff Gephart

p.s. the only endorsement that should matter to you is your own.

[Cliff's Notes]

Thank you, Mr. Gephart, for a sane comment. An oasis in the desert of this blog.

[Don't make wise decisions]

The PRO backs a candidate that filed for bancruptcy? That seems like poor advice.

[People who live in the real world]

Hey PRO! Did your “issue based” questionnaire ask the candidates how they intend to address real issues like this…?

“Florida unemployment rate hit 10.6% in June”

“The latest bay area figures, for May, are revised upward to 11.1 percent. One expert says it's the size of the jump that's surprising.”

… didn’t think so… but hey, just as long as bump-up our commission…

[Pinellas Realtors explain their endorsements]

The Pinellas Realtors sent out a memo explaining last week's endorsement of the City Council candidates:

http://saintpetersblog1.blogspot.com/2009/07/pinellas-realtors-explain-endorsements.html