A political or physical threat in District 55 House race?

ST. PETERSBURG -- State House candidates Earnest Williams and Darryl Rouson have made it clear that there is no lost love between them. But now Williams, a St. Petersburg City Council member, contends his rival wants more than just a political fight.

WIlliams told St. Petersburg Times' editorial writers this morning that Rouson, a lawyer and former St. Petersburg NAACP head, made repeated physical threats toward him, including: "I'm going to kick your butt."

Williams said he was so worried he called police Chief Charles Harmon for help.

Harmon confirmed that he spoke with Williams about the alleged threats. "He said (Rouson) made some threatening comments toward him," Harmon said. "He described it as a simple assault. He didn’t give me enough information to tell me if a crime occurred.''

Williams told a reporter that Rouson was "very upset" and "meant it physically." Rouson confirmed that he told Williams he would "beat him," but that he never threatened to physically harm him.

"All I intended by everything I said was that I would beat him at the ballot box," Rouson said. "He is just doing this now to try to garner sympathy because there was outrage from people over what he did yesterday."

The alleged threat comes on the heels of a heated exchange between the District 55 candidates during a candidate forum at the Suncoast Tiger Bay luncheon Wednesday, where Rouson and Williams publicly took swipes at one another.

Williams, a State Farm insurance agent, struck first with an attack on Rouson’s past crack cocaine addiction and his two years as a registered Republican. Rouson fired back with a few shots at Williams' ties to the insurance industry.

At one point in the meeting, Williams and Rouson sat side by side whispering furiously as the moderator introduced a third District 55 candidate, the Rev. Charles McKenzie. Williams said that is when Rouson began threatening him.

But Rouson said Williams was the one who got personal first.

"He was egging me on," Rouson said.

Harmon said he told Williams that he could file a complaint. Williams said he would think it over.

-- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Comments

Judging by the behavior at last night's campaign event, neither of these men comport themselves well enough to deserve elected office.

Rouson tried to take credit for the Sweetbay development in Midtown - which was NOT his work ( or maybe he was the one who strong armed the home owners to move out and sell below market value ??). He was on the verge of bankruptcy when Baker and company helped him get by and now Rouson owes them. Can't be trusted and too many people in the community call him a thug - probably not too far a stretch to think Rouson might hit Williams.

Williams is not much better. He has a poor record on the city council. Has traveled the world on tax payer money justifying it by saying he was a member of the International Relations Committee and that the citizens wanted him to travel on their behalf. What a joke.

McKenzie is the right person for the job. He is honest, courteous and very intelligent. He does not carry water for Baker, Gibbons, or Go Davis. He would be an excellent addition to the Pinellas delegation because he has no prior baggage to weigh him down and no one else's agenda on his mind.

Ditto to 4:01!

[Tom]

I have to agree with the first comment. Rev. Charles McKenzie would be a great legislator. As a public school teacher he will bring a much needed perspective to Tallahassee. As a pastor of an inner city church he can see up close some of the urgent problems we need to deal with.

[Count LF MdeWReB W Chudzikiewicz herb. Chodkiewicz]

Born at McDill 62 years ago, I spent my early years in St. Pete and later lived with my maternal uncle and aunt there. With my mother interned north of Tampa, and my Uncle in St. Pete I naturally go back each year. In 2009 I finish a scholarly project here in Muenchen. I do not want to return to Broward or Miami-Dade Counties because of the corrupt government, wasteful spending, dictatoral government and minority crime that no one in my Democratic Party wants to discuss. Now I see this article that a candidate, a serious candidate for the Municipal government from the Black Community is a (former) crack addict. Give me a break! And fighting at a political meeting! I am sorry, if the people of St. Pete think any decent person wants to live in a city with these kinds of characters in public office, the population is seriously mistaken.