Charlie Justice running for Bill Young's seat

Democrat Charlie Justice will end a decade-long state legislative career to challenge C.W. Bill Young for Congress. “The decisions made in Washington D.C. more and more impact our daily lives and  that’s what drew me to public service in the first place,’’ said the 39-year-old state senator from St. Petersburg. “We need people in Washingtonthat understand their decisions have real impact on the families and small businesses here.”

Young, 78, could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening but told the St. Petersburg Times earlier this month says he has no plans to retire after his 20th term in Congress. He won’t make any decision until next year, however.

Either way, Justice says he’s in: "If he decides to retire after 40 years in Washington, we’ll thank him for his service and if he decides to run again, we’ll have a healthy debate,’’ said Justice, an academic adviser at the University of South Florida.

Running against Young is entirely different than running for an open seat, however. The 10th Congressional District stretching from St.Petersburg to Dunedin.has been increasingly trending Democratic – Barack Obama won it by 5 percentage points – but Young is a political institution who has funneled many millions of dollars into the region. In the Democratic wave of 2008, Young, beat Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth by more than 20 percentage points

Comments

[what?]

Charlie Justice got elected in 2006. Where is the decade?

[Sybil]

Go Justice League! We've got your back Charlie and you've got our votes!

[Hope yet]

Yes! Go, Charlie!

[Elroy]

I'm with you, Charlie. C.W. keeps hoping he'll die in office, so that Beverly can be appointed to his seat. That old son-of-a-gun can be beat, and Charlie is just the man to do it.

[randog]

This is very good news for dist 10, Charlie has been great in Tally and will do even better in D.C.. Maybe finally the will of the people in 10 will be represented.

[Jack]

Congressman Young has done great things for CD 10, but his influence has waned. It's time for some new blood in DC. Charlie Justice is one of the good guys, who is in this for the right reasons. This will be a rough race, but if anyone can beat Young, Justice can.

[Clinton Tyre]

This time the people win...Lawton Chiles

Charlie will make an outstanding member of Congress. He represents a new face, fresh perspective and a motivation founded on service to others. Go Charlie, Go.

[Liam]

Legislative Service

Elected to the House in 2000, reelected subsequently

Democratic Whip

[Angela]

I thank Congressman Young for his service and welcome Charlie Justice. It is time for a new generation to take over the reigns.

[Republican]

Other than being elected to office, Charlie Justice has accomplished NOTHING in his life. Never met a payroll. Never run a business. Never had to make tough decisions. He's a bureaucrat and a government employee. Nothing else. We need LEADERS in elected office. Not career "nice guys".

[no]

Charlie Justice has done nothing in a decade, why send him to Washington to do the same?

[news online]

FPSC Reports

Commissioner Edgar Fights For Confirmation, Turns To Utilities

On April 14th the confirmation hearing for Florida Public Service Commissioner Lisa Edgar before the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities was temporarily postponed. No one was prepared to go on the record as to why this occurred.

On April 13th, the publisher of FPSCReports.com provided a compilation of documents to the Committee recovered from data requests and interviews. These documents will be published on this site on Friday, April 17th.

Included in the documents is the now infamous “Blackberry Data Request.” Among the items recovered through this request was an email indicating that Commissioner Edgar accepted a message passed to her by her aide that originated from a regulated utility representative during a hearing at the Florida Public Service Commission.

On April 15th, FPSCReports.com was able to confirm from two independent sources that Ms. Edgar was being escorted through the halls of the Florida Senate by a registered utility lobbyist discussing her confirmation with Senators.
Posted on April 15, 2009 at 10:36 pm by

[Cut Pork Spending]

That's great news, now we can finally get rid of him from Tallahassee plus make sure he has no chance of winning Bill Young's seat.

Charlie Justice was a total failure and was against the people's call for property tax relief instead supporting the fatcat local government's overspending.

GOOD RIDDANCE CHARLIE. AT LEAST WE'LL BE GETTING RID OF ONE CHARLIE.

[Ann]

If Beverly Young runs, she'll have my vote.

[Cut Pork Spending]

If Bill Young retires, Mayor Baker will run imo.

[Matt]

If Congressman Young runs he will win, while Charlie might do better than most Dem's, he will still lose. This would put him in a very good position for 2012 though. If Young retires and Republican's can recruit a decent canidate like Mayor Baker than it will be a toss up. Both Charlie Justice and Bill Young are great guys though, who care a great deal about the people they serve.

[Conservative Era has ended.]

Time for Young to end his career and pass the torch to a Democrat. The GOP has had its day in Washington - with the advent of what looks to be a long lasting Democrat majority, and the unfortunate decision by the GOP to adopt obstruction as their only political platform, we need a Senator who can be a part of the team and responsibly lead Pinellas and Florida into the 21st century.

[Thankful]

Well I just want to thank for Charile Justice for one thing....ensuring that Mr. Young will run again and be elected again. Thanks Charlie, I was fearing he might retire and let someone else run for his seat.

[TRUE BLUE]

You could guarantee that Justice would be running in Dist. 10 when the Dem. Party used him as their focal point in their "Vote Local" mailings that produced NO RESULTS for local candidates. Now these same folks, Kates,Molinaro,Larry are bleeding the Wagman for Mayor campaign as a test run for the Justice for Congress campaign. Look for Wagman to run for the Senate 16 seat as payback when he loses in the primary!!

[el matador]

I wish I were in that District so I could vote for Charlie. He will do a great job for the area. We need someone strong to run against Gus "the lesser".

[Susan S]

Republican at 11:18 PM:
"Never met a payroll. Never run a business. Never had to make tough decisions. He's a bureaucrat and a government employee."

This column is about Charlie Justice, not Charlie Crist.

Cut Pork Spending at 12:41 AM,

"Charlie Justice was a total failure and was against the people's call for property tax relief instead supporting the fatcat local government's overspending."

The Republicans have been in charge of everything. If you want to cast blame, start with Congressman ("I couldn't do anything about the problems at Walter Reed") Young, then take a look at the Bilirakis dynasty. Then move on to the Republican legislature in Tallahassee. Democrats can barely get legislation heard in committee, let alone get it passed!

About those local "fatcats" - All of your Pinellas constitiutional officers are Republicans, and five of seven commissioners are Republicans. I don't know the party ID of the city council, but you also have a Republican mayor.

I'll repeat what I say here on the Buzz ad nauseum: Republican policies have failed at every level of government. It's time for a change.

Charlie Justice will make an excellent Congressman. I hope the voters of FL-10 will realize he is the change we need.

[Michelle in Riverview]

Rep. Bill Young has been a U.S. Congressman for as long as both Senator Justice and I have been alive (almost 40 years). Young has arguably done some good things for his constituents in Florida's CD-10, but it's time for him to pass the torch and let someone with new and fresh ideas take the helm.

Also, I was watching some of the "tea party" footage last night, and think it is really rich hearing some conservatives at the rallies insisting on "term limits" (as they're doing with President Obama, which is hilarious because the President already HAS a 2-term limit). However, when it comes to enforcing such term limits, Republicans have a hard time imposing them on their own party's elected officials. Young has been in office since 1970, which by my calcluations, is going to add up to 20 (twenty!!) terms by the time next year's midterms come rolling around. It would be nice to see Republicans practice what they preach (for a change)!

[Double Dipper]

said Justice, an academic adviser at the University of South Florida.

Justice concluded, "my double dipping, receiving two paychecks from state entities has not been as lucritive as my fellow members. Given the heightened awareness of legislators pulling two paychecks from a state source, I am attempting to replace both paycheck with one larger paycheck from the federal government."

I am Charlie Justice and I am running for a bigger paycheck!

[Good Plan]

Justice represents the new thinking that's badly needed in Congress. Young is from old times; they are over. It's tough for a Dem in that district, but people will listen to him. Voters are fed-up with Repubs now, especially those in office longer than most people have been alive.

[Disappointed]

I live in Charlie's Senate district (the Tampa part) and I am really disappointed to have worked so hard to help get him elected to a seat that will be very hard for any other Democrat to win (not everyone is going to get lucky enough to run against Kim "Overgrown sorority girl" Berfield), just to see him make a move that is anything but a sure thing. He probably won't beat Young and his Senate district may fall back into Republican hands (God forbid those hands might be Faye Culp's). I think Charlie is making a mistake here and I am very disappointed.

[Alex]

Believe it or not, there is more to success than "running a business." Government service does much more for society than say, owning a muffler repair shop or peddling cheap beach equipment.

[Beach resident]

10:13...the 6 years in the FL House....and 4 years as Lars Hafner's aide.

Wouldn't expect anyone to remember since he didn't do anything while in the House, same as he hasn't done anything in the Senate.

SO I wonder what he won't do if he gets alected to to Congress, except vote the way leadershi tells him too.

[Lindsey]

My dear Charlie: You would not or will not be the democratic candidate of choice IF Young decides to retire, which he is not.

[D-10 Voter]

Alright Kates… since I (and most likely everyone else) knows you’re monitoring this thread for CJ… Here you go:

Since this is my District and CJ wants my vote… I want to know his (CJ’s) position on the debacle going on in Kenneth City over the bastardized version of the Resign-to-Run Law. Since he sponsored the bill at the State level to exempt himself from it, what will he do as my Congressman to assure that this form of political extortion is done away with once an for all at all levels of Pinellas government?

[Jumpin' Joe]

Good luck with that, Charlie

[RB]

Slick Rick Kriseman will go for this seat once Justice vacates it. If you thought Justice was worthless… Slick Rick is worth even less that that! He’s a Sembler stooge that plays Democrat in real life.

[Equalizer]

Democrats might not have the easy road to maintain absolute power that some of you seem to think.

A lot of people are starting to recoil from all this socialist change obama and pelosi are pushing. In a district with a high number of seniors and veterans too much change is not a good thing, especially when it is so anti-American. These voters will be clinging for dear life to vote in support of stability. That stability is Rep Young staying in office.

Dist 10 will show a reversal of trend in the next year or so as many who only vote entitlements leave Florida for better benefits and cheaper living costs elsewehere.

Justice will have to campaign on not being a YES man for Pelosi if he is to have any chance whatsoever to improve on Hackworth's run. People will see right through that when the opposition research portrays his party line discipline in the state legislature.

There is justice after all isn't there!

[D-10 Voter]

Mitch?... anyone... anyone... Bueller... Bueller...

[Angry Taxpayer!]

Florida Republicans send more Florida jobs to India:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2009/04/15/a1a_food_stamps_0416.html

[John]

This isn't about Charlie Justice beating Bill Young. He has absolutely no chance. It's about him positioning himself for when Young retires.

The only problem is that Mayor Baker and other high profile candidates will easily defeat Justice no matter when he runs. His best bet is to run out of the district into a pure democratic district, if he wants to be a Congressman, because it won't happen in the 10th Congressional District

[Longleaf]

Will Bill Young, a moderate at heart, run for re-election backed by a party led by Limbaugh and Steele?

Every article that mentions Bill Young's tenure mentions that his popularity is largely due to his ability to bring home the pork. Now that he's in a minority party again, he doesn't have that calling card.

IMHO, Bill Young's best chance for re-election is to show some political spunk by crossing party lines in his votes in Washington. For a district that voted largely for Obama, Bill is in the minority in more ways than one.

My wager: He'll retire to (well-earned) accolades for his decades for service (and $$$) to his constituency.

[Really?!?!]

John - Have you taken a look at the 10th Congressional district? Obama won the 10th with 52% of the vote. The only reason it is still a Republican seat is because Young keeps running and he is a nice guy and people like him. The year he retires, this will most likely be the most competitive race in the country. And, I would hedge a bet on the fact that it will be one of the most expensive races that year also since both parties will be targeting it strenuously!

[2 percent]

Really?!?!

Bet I can find 2 percent of people in CD10 that want to CHANGE their mind right about now...

[Voter not on drugs!]

For all you delusional Democrats out there pimping the praises of this district and Florida “turning blue”. Annnnnnnnt; wake up Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore!

District 10, and Florida, is a red as ever. Yes, Obama won in Florida and D-10… but Obama is the ONLY Democrat who one who won in D-10. Everybody (at least 52%) in D-10 wanted a change at the top. It in no way indicates that the district is turning blue, and 2010 will validate the anomaly.

Good luck to Charlie Justme!… but if Young wants to stay; Young stays.

[Sooey!]

Young is quick to point out he voted against this year's budget, but peek inside and see how much pork he poked in it.

(For those keeping score at home, ol' CW Bill built his reputation by greasing constituents through the VA morass, but did little to fix it. In other words, you had to go to him to get that which you earned.)

[Katie in seminole]

ELROY, DO NOT FOOL YOURSELF!BEVERLY COULD BEAT ANY ONE,BUT CAN YOU READ?THERE IS AN ARTICLE STRAIGHT FROM CONGRESSMAN YOUNGS MOUTH,HE HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE.YOU NEED TO LOOK AROUND THIS COUNTY AND THANK CONGRESSMAN YOUNG FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR THE DISTRICT.THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN YOUNG

[Bob]

You don’t need to look around to see CW’s impact… just drive around Pinellas. Take CW Bill Young Avenue to CW Bill Young Street – turn right – go over the CW Bill Young Bridge, pass the CW Bill Young park to CW Bill Young Road – turn left – go pass seven of the government building named after CW Bill Young and stop at the CW Bill Young Center for Homeless Veterans. Oh wait; scratch that last one.

[To the Bank]

Rick Baker will never run for CD-10, unless he's run for something else prior to that(statewide office?) and
lost.

[Tom M.]

The only thing Tricky Rick Baker should run for is the county line. This Mel stooge is as corrupt as they come.

I wouldn’t let him run my lawn mower.

[AJS]

I think some of the delusional posters above need a little help. So let me try....

1. Susan, Susan, Susan. I guess you are blogging during a break from your exhaustive visits to the VA Hospitals in the area...oh wait. To claim that Mr. Young had anything to do with the scandal at WRAMC is as ridiculous today as it was when you starting posting it years ago. Maybe you are as delusional as you seem.

2. Michelle in Riverview - I am a Republican and I have never advocated for the term limits you talk about. I think we have term limits every two years. Anything other than elections is ridiculous and could be said to be the very reason we have a mess in Tallahassee. To say that all Republicans advocate that position is silly. We need experience to navigate through these troubled times and Mr. Young has that in spades.

3. Anyone who thinks that Obama winning this CD means that a Democrat will surely take this seat is in for a surprise. This seat stays with Mr. Young as long as he wants it and we will be very fortunate to keep him right here.

4. You say Pork. I say job creation, infrastructure improvement, and a return of tax dollars to the residents of Pinellas County.

The bottom line is that Mr. Justice will not win in a competition against Mr. Young. He is well liked across the entire political spectrum and the constituents of Pinellas County know he is in WDC to advocate on their behalf.

[AJackasS]

Susan never pick a fight with someone that buys lies ans spin by the barrel.

[SAJ]

Been a while AJ... where you been hiding, or should I say; from what have you been hiding?

[SPGGOP]

Charlie Justice will be the next democrat to get trounced by Congressman Young. Congressman Young enjoys broad support from democrats and Republicans. I look forward to helping Congressman Young win his 21st term next year! Keep YOUNG!!!

[AJS]

I haven't been hiding....just working a little harder these days. I have to concentrate on making a little more these days so I can pay your mortgage, your share of taxes, and "coming soon" your retirement benefits. Not as much time to blog due to the policies of this new administration and Democratic Congress.....

[anthony]

Bill Young won in 2008 with 60%. In an Obama County in and Obama State in a high turnout year. On off years republicans have the advantage (2010 is an off year). If he got 60% in 2008 he can get 65% in 2010.

Young 2010.