U.S. House | District 9, Democratic primary

Winner: Bill Mitchell

Three Democrats are looking for a shot to unseat one-term incumbent Gus Bilirakis, who took over the seat from his father, Mike, who retired in 2006 after 24 years in office. Democratic Party strategists say Bilirakis could be vulnerable and have dubbed the race as one to watch. The primary winner will face Bilirakis and three others in November: Richard O. Emmons, Term Limits for the U. S. Congress Party; John “Johnny K” Kalimnios, no party affiliation; and Andrew Pasayan, a write-in candidate.

	John L. Dicks, 55	William D. “Bill” Mitchell, 61	Anita de Palma, 71
Experience	Dicks served nine years on the Plant City Commission, including three one-year stints as mayor. A former financial adviser, he is a business and real estate attorney. He was appointed to the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees by Gov. Lawton Chiles and served from 1994 to 1998. He serves on the board of trustees of South Florida Baptist Hospital, is a member of the Florida Farm Bureau and was a pack leader and assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts for 10 years.	Mitchell is the founder and president of Mitchell Law Group. As an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in the 1970s, he led an investigation into the offshore leasing practices of “big oil.” He is a former Naval submarine officer and Vietnam War veteran. He serves on the board of directors of the Tampa chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and is a development board member of the Suncoast Alzheimer’s and Gerontology Center. He authored the Estate & Retirement Planning Answer Book.	A community activist on behalf of women and Hispanics, de Palma is a past state president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, which focuses on civil rights, education and immigration issues. In that position, she lobbied against the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). She is the chairwoman of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s Air Force Academy Appointment Committee. A concert pianist, she has performed on Broadway.
Education	Bachelor’s degree in public relations, University of Florida; law degree, Florida State University	Bachelor’s degree in economics, University of Washington; master’s degree in tax law, Georgetown University; master’s degree in economics and law degree, University of California, Berkeley.	Bachelor’s degree from Juilliard School of Music.
On the issues	He supports greater oversight of energy futures speculators, a comprehensive health insurance program that would work in conjunction with the private sector, the expansion of FHA mortgages and a complete overhaul of the tax code that would include a reduction in the number of taxpayers subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax. He opposes offshore drilling and tax cuts for the wealthy. Supports Roe vs. Wade.	He supports a national catastrophic insurance fund, a family care tax credit for people caring for elderly or disabled relatives, a system to provide legal help to soldiers and a timely withdrawal of troops in Iraq. He wants to see health insurance loopholes closed and supports importing prescription drugs from Canada. He opposes offshore drilling and proposals to privatize Social Security. Supports Roe vs. Wade.	She supports a universal health care system, tax code reform to benefit the lower and middle classes, the creation of a fund to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and an amended NAFTA agreement. She opposed federal stimulus checks, calling the measure a “Band-Aid” and would like to see a rapid timetable for pulling troops out of Iraq. Supports Roe vs. Wade.
How they can beat Gus	“As a Blue Dog Democrat, I share the values of the people in the district. That’s why I’ve been able to be elected nine years in one of the most conservative parts of the district.” Dicks also pointed to changing demographics in the district, such as the recent surge in registered Democrats in Pinellas County.	“I am the only candidate that has commanded troops in time of war and that experience allows me to ask the tough questions and provide the oversight to see that the right war decisions are made . . . (and) I’m the only candidate in this race that has investigated and litigated against big oil. I understand how the industry works because I understand how big oil defends itself.”	“By telling the truth and making it very obvious to the constituents that I will be different and I will be there for them. The message has to be delivered consistently and truthfully.”
Assets	Real estate business, stocks, money market and other investment accounts	401K, IRA’s and other investment accounts	Real estate, insured art collection, savings and retirement accounts
Liabilities	None	Student loan	Credit cards, campaign loans
Source of income	Salary from Synergy Communications and city of Plant City (2007)	Salary from Mitchell Law Group	Investments, Social Security
Personal	Wife, Sharon; two sons	Wife, Mary; three sons	Divorced, no children
Web site	Yes	Yes	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes	Yes

About the job: U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $169,300 annually. U.S. House District 9 is spread across North Pinellas, west Pasco and suburban northern and eastern Hillsborough.