Rouson gathering key endorsements

The campaign trail is looking bright for state House candidate Darryl Rouson (left).

The St. Petersburg attorney secured a number of endorsements from a group of diverse community leaders recently, including Rep. Bill Heller, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, and Republican Deveron Gibbons, a vice president at  Amscot Financial and a well-known Midtown activist.

A number of St. Petersburg faith leaders also have thrown their support behind Rouson, including Pastor Manuel L. Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church and Pastor Louis Murphy of Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.

Rouson is running for the state House District 55 seat. The special election comes on the heels of Rep. Frank Peterman's appointment as secretary of Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice. The primary election is March 25.

Three other Democrats are running against Rouson, a former Republican: educator Charles McKenzie, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and University of South Florida student Steven Lapinski. A Republican has not entered the race.

Rouson's recent endorsements are in addition to Peterman's announcement earlier this month that he would support Rouson.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Comments

Bye Ernie.

Daryl Rouson has established himself as a strong leader on the Florida Tax & Budget Reform Commission. This week in Tallahassee he won a unanimous vote on proposed faith & character-based prison legislation that could save millions of dollars and lives through a basic reform of Florida's corrections system, building community links and positive culture inside to cut recidivism.

6:49. Thanks Daryl! Blow your own horn.

The Republicans are running. They are running as Democrats for this election. The voters in this district must be a bunch of illiterate morons.

[Gilbert]

As an African American and Republican, I cannot and will not support a person who switches Political Parties albeit to get ELECTED! While quite a few of misguided, misinformed so called African American leaders have thrown thier support behind this individual, the people who look up to the endorsers should look even harder! Other than being a neighborhood show boat like Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton, Mr. Rouson could really assist everyone by bowing out or withdrawing his name altogether! Further, he is fooling himself and others if he feels as though he would be effective. He has a very long way to go to reach level of acceptance and competence in my eyes. Listen up St. Petersburg, take a look at this guy for what he is, a "political thrill seeker" with self patronage as his watch word!

Gilbert, no one cares what you think. This one will be decided by the Democratic voters of district 55.

These preachers aren't preaching politics in their 501c3 tax exempt churches, now are they?

Of course they are. Bush's privatized prisons and "faith-based" programs are all boondoggles to steal our tax dollars.

They don't work. They fake number to make it look like they do.

It is a hostile takeover of our government of citizens -- by corporatist plutocrats to keep their families and fellow travelers employed at salaries FAR exceeding their skills or competence.

Learn to think for yourself. PRIVATIZED means taxpayer assets stolen by crooked politicians who get personal profit for their votes.

Anyone who is getting the endorsements of the religious community should be disqualified. The last thing this state needs is another holy roller in the political machinery.

This is the best line of the whole article...

"A Republican has not entered the race."

Now that;... is a freaking hoot.

When is the qualifying deadline? Will this be an Open Primary?

i guess only loser idiots post blog comments at 11:30pm and 2:39am

[Gadfly]

Take a look at who was responsible for throwing low-income old folks out on the street. He was part of the group trying to purchase Graham-Rogall instead of helping the helpless members of his own community. He is an o-r-e-o, nah---he's just about himself.

Lord help us, if this charlatan gets in.

Williams is the charlatan. He can't think his way out of a paper bag, pontificates on subjects he plainly can't grasp, and wouldn't rock the boat if his life depended on it.On his website he actually takes credit for $400,000,000 in construction starts during his Council tenure. Now that is pretentiously self-serving. Are you going to take credit for spending all the resulting property tax dollars also, Ernie? We need Rabble Rousers in Tallahasee NOW! Rouson, no matter what letter is behind his name, will shake things up on Monroe Street, and it will be fun to watch.

As is the case with any number of token placements, Rouson, no matter what letter is behind his name, will fall directly in-line and do exactly what he’s told to do on Monroe Street to avoid any future “real” challenges to the seat should he win it, and it will be sad to watch… AGAIN!

Token placements? You mean because he will be sent there with a D after his name?

[Andy]

The city, the county, the state, indeed even the country would be well-served by the efforts of Mr. Rouson in any capacity. He has gained success through honest hard work. He has had the bravery to take a stand on unpopular issues. He has known his demons and overcome them in the public square.He has paid his dues and it's his turn to shine. It is disheartening that some would malign the fact that he is respected in both the black community and the white community. We really need a bridge builder these days and Rouson definitely is one.

Good Lord, Andy... get off the crack! Rouson is a self-serving hack at best.

The American Negro rides again.

This American Negro filed bankruptcy a few years ago he should run for Governor.

[James]

foolish dems... think darryl is really a dem? He'll switch back to Republican, win or lose. Look at his campaign literature - all republicans!

Rouson's switch to the Democratic party is just a recognition that too many African-Americans refuse to vote for a Republican -- even when they agree with his/her positions. Its smart politics for him to avoid that brick-wall. After he is elected, Rouson will vote alongside the Rs more often than the Ds.
This is still a win for the GOP.

So 11:31, you are saying that Rouson, the Democratic and Republican Parties stand for nothing. Why would anyone vote for a candidate that represents nothing more than their own self-aggrandizement?