St. Pete City Council election: Is anybody out there?

There's a growing concern that this year's St. Petersburg City Council elections will come and go without most city residents even noticing. In an off-year election with no other question on the ballot, some have even suggested turnout might dip below 10, maybe 5 percent.

If money is any indication, some candidates are doing a better job getting the word out than others. Through the most recent campaign fund raising period, which ended Friday, only three of the 11 candidates have more than $10,000 in the bank.

In District 1, longtime city lobbyist Herb Polson has built up a sizeable fundraising lead over his competitor, former City Council member Bob Kersteen. Through last Friday, Polson has raised $15,705 and spent $3,443, while Kersteen has raised $2,500 and spent $1,557. Polson's contributors include Mel Sembler, Craig Sher, former council member Paul Yingst, ex-Clearwater City Council member Bill Jonson, current or retired city officials Lee Metzger, Richard Feinber, Tish Elston, Mayor David Fischer, Mark Winn, Helen Levinem and Julie Weston.

In District 3, an open seat that has drawn the most attention, Ed Montanari and Bill Dudley are leading the fundraising pack. Montanari, who has the support of Mayor Rick Baker and outgoing District 3 representative Bill Foster has raised $18,775 while spending $8,389. Dudley, the longtime Northeast High School teacher and coach, has raised slightly less, $18,449, but has more left to spend - more than $12,000. Cathy Harrelson has raised $9,792 and has nearly $3,900 left in the bank. A fourth candidate, Cliff Gephart, missed the Friday reporting deadline and is facing $50 daily fines. He had raised $7000 through August 3.

In District 5, where two candidates are challenging incumbent Jamie Bennett, Bennett's competition -- Chris Kelly and Debra Johnson Woodard -- failed to meet the fundraising reporting deadline. Bennett has $2,950 in cash on hand.

In District 7, the two candidates have spent almost all the money they've raised so far. Gersom Faulkner has raised nearly five times his opponent Wengay Newton, $15,173 to $3,070, but Faulkner only has $3,240 left in cash on hand. Newton, however, has spent all but $50 of the money's he's raised so far -- including on several lunch trips to McDonald's and Wendy's.

Comments

Unfortunately… 70% of a 8% voter turn out… will still be reported and a “Landslide Mandate of the People”.

[Gene Smith]

Early voting for the September 11th primary starts todayfor voters in Districts 3 and 5. It should be interesting to see if anbody shows up.

[Peter (now off of probation)]

The lack of interest in these races may be due to the simple fact that most city residents are content with their local government. Just take a look at the discussion over the new LDRs where there was such unanimity behind Bob Jeffries' plan. Thats the latest example of St. Petersburg's city government doing a good, if not great, job. In other words, what is there to really complain about?

Also, in the post-Kathleen Ford era, there isn't the kind of divisive figure on council to stir up any trouble. This is a very collegial body with no troublemaker among them. And the candidates running for office represent that attitude. The one candidate that would provide a spark on council is Chris Kelly. No that he should or should not replace the affable Bennett, but Chris likes to throw out some bold ideas, some good and some bad. It'd be interesting to see him on council.

Thank you 11:53 (aka: incumbent)… the reality is… it’s apathy toward the process due to constant disappointment and insult... apathy by design, I call it. Why vote, when it does not matter. Politicians, who continue to put issues “back” on the ballot because it didn’t go their way, often insult voters as a result. And politicians justify the move by claiming that the voters were ill-informed… translation “Insult”

Eventually, it goes the politician’s way, but not for the reason they proclaim after the win. They claim the voter “saw the light” and voted for a specific initiative. In reality; the voter voting against a particular issue gets insulted by its constant reintroduction for vote… and simply doesn’t show (Apathy by Design)… then the issue passes, but not because yes votes increased. To the contrary… the no votes simply decreased by virtue of no-shows… (Apathy by Design).

[Campaign Manager]

Actually, judging by the signature, I'd say that 11:53 is actually the late, lamented Peter Schorsch.

[Peter (now off of probation)]

Late, lamented, i.e., mourned for?

Yes, it is me. And I'll avoid being a cliche and quoting Twain about reports of my demise. I paid the restitution and a five year sentence was mercifully and deservedly converted to five months. Or, if you look at it from a kharma standpoint, the criminal justice system simply traded me for Angelo Cappelli.

Now that... was funny. Even for you Peter.

Blogs...the last realm for criminals to comment.

Chris Kelley has a scorched earth policy of leaving every group he has worked with despising him. Why has he moved around from district to district so much?

[Bruce Cotton]

Welcome back to the Blogshere Peter!

[Campaign Manager]

Of course, we have all abandoned Peter's old St.Petersblog (http://saintpetersblog1.blogspot.com/) for a new one (http://stpetersblog.com/). He'll have to work hard to win us back.

Who says he won us in the first place?

[Campaign Manager]

Good point. And I love http://stpetersblog.com much more than I ever enjoyed Peter's blog.

Still, it's all a nice distraction from this presidential primary mess.

[joe]

The campaign coverage is the least I have ever seen. It should not surprise us if the turnout follows.

CM,

Point well taken.

[Peggy]

I'm a St. Pete Native and I would like to see Teacher Bill Dudley win and beat Rick Baker's puppet. As we all now how Rick Baker handled this city. (rollseyes) It would be wonderful to get some real people like Bill Dudley in our cold heartless city council.

[Mr. Lear Man]

What else is Wengay doing with the $500.00 draws he's been taking out?