Column: A Life Built Upon All The Right Trappings

It seems easier to start with the public life of John Bryan.

There have not been many people who wanted so badly, and so specifically, to be a member of the St. Petersburg City Council.

Bryan thought about the council years in advance. He arranged his life accordingly, shutting down his business to make time, touring other cities to observe their workings.

He spent dutiful years on various city committees. He tried to get appointed to a vacant seat in 1998, and was finally elected in 2001.

In 2005, even against a long-shot opponent, Bryan was consumed by the prospect of not being re-elected.

"The fear of losing eats me up," Bryan told a reporter then. "I love this city and I love my job and I don't want to take any chance of losing it."

So I wonder what was going through his mind on Aug. 20, the first date on his letter of resignation from the job that was so much of his identity... [rest of column]

Comments

[Randall Sirvent]

Don't remember the pervert lets pray for his victims. Don't let him rest in peace. He still hasn't got what he deserves. He took the easy way out. Burn Bryan.

[Elaine]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!

[Larry]

Howard, when I first heard that John Bryan had resigned on Friday, I just figured another corrupt politician caught with his hand in the cookie jar, because is what we have been taught to think here in Pinellas County. But it saddens me that his crime turned out to be against his family. True, he is gone and doesn't have to deal with the mess he has left behind. Lives have been forever changed. I hope his family is able to get the counseling they are going to need to deal with this for the rest of their lives. Suicide is a coward's way out when they can't deal with the results of their actions. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. This is a very difficult time.

[Barry]

Howard,

I aways thought you guys wanted to be the Post... I just thought it was the Washington Post, not the New York Post.

Where is the editorial judgment in publishing a full-color half page photo of John Bryan on page one of Sunday's paper? You'd think the man won the Nobel Peace prize.

And is it really necessary to identify, in every single story on this subject, who the victims were, including their ages? No names were used "to protect their privacy"??? What a disgusting cop-out. Please, ask your editors to display some respect for the victims in this case. They have enough of a burden without you all adding to it.

Sadly… Bryan was part of a political protection bubble, established by the good ol’ boys and gals here in Pinellas. It is a self, and mutual, protection society that’s has long existed within the political structures in this dirty little county. I’m saddened for his family’s predicament… but cannot say that I’m saddened by his departure from this world.

It doesn’t matter how many of his protectors’ bloviate over his “love” for the city, or the many good things he did while in office… he molested his foster children… and therefore deserves no praise at all. So please’ Jamie Bennett and the rest of you inner-circle butt-kissers… shut up already. You’ll score no political points praising a child molester.

And before you nut jobs start in on the “accusation only” spin… innocent people, falsely accused on child molestation… do not kill themselves.

[Jennifer W]

Easy there Mr/Ms Anonymous, Jamie Bennett is no inner circle butt kisser. If you're angry or upset by this whole crazy, surprising, out of the blue thing (like most of us are), that's ok. Just make sure you toss your anger at the right target.

Jennifer,

“Anger” is an emotion that in reality, can’t be detected in writing. One can offer a speculative opinion of what a writer’s emotion might have been while writing… but that’s about it.

Bennett, the person… appears to be a fine man to be sure. However, having observed him within the St. Pete political realm for many years… he’s no different than any other opportunistic politician. And that “opinion” has nothing to do with Party affiliation. We have all experienced an amazing, almost surreal, season of horrific and disturbing events exposing the high degree of hypocrisy that exists within our government leadership. And to be sure, the aforementioned “…self, and mutual, protection society that’s has long existed within the political structures…” has no Party affiliation ownership.

The real problem rides with neither the D’s not the R’s… the real problem rides with the I’s, as in Incumbent. I believe it was comedian Robin Williams who put it best when he said something to the effect of: … elected officials are just like a baby’s diaper. Sooner or later they are both filled with sh*t, and both need to be changed often…”

Jamie does not condone the alligations of John Bryan. But, he is very concerned about the well-being of the Bryan family. He speaks from his heart, not political motivation.