Thread: Democrats Dicks And Russell Best In Primary For Congress

Democrats Dicks And Russell Best In Primary For Congress
The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 7, 2008

Congressional District 9 is a good example of a district drawn to suit politicians rather than serve voters.



John Dicks
It includes include coastal Pasco, parts of north Pinellas, north Hillsborough and selected parts of east Hillsborough.

Its many diverse communities make campaigning a challenge, and the importance of name recognition will make incumbent Republican Gus Bilirakis hard to defeat.

Democrats will give themselves the best chance to win in November by choosing the best known and most qualified Democrat in the race - former Plant City Mayor John Dicks.

The other choices on the Aug. 26 primary ballot are Bill Mitchell of Carrollwood and Anita de Palma of Clearwater

Mitchell, a Tampa lawyer who has previously worked on a Federal Trade Commission investigation of oil prices, is a serious, sincere candidate. He is an advisor for the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

The former naval officer wants to use his legal experience to simplify the tax code and strengthen health care. Mitchell is most animated when he talks of the ineffectiveness of Bilirakis.

He is a stronger candidate than Anita de Palma of Clearwater. A former concert pianist, she has long been an activist for civil rights, women's rights and has been a leader of the League of United Latin American Citizens. She wants to stop the expansion of free trade agreements and stop the war in Iraq, but can give Democrats little hope of stopping the well-heeled Bilirakis.

Dicks, as the national Democratic Party has recognized, has unique strengths.

He grew up in Plant City and worked in his father's hardware store.

"I share the values of the district," he says, and that is especially true in east Hillsborough.

As mayor he helped keep Plant City's taxes low despite growth pressures. He served on the board of trustees of Hillsborough Community College and so is well versed in education issues. And he has traveled the world as a lawyer and consultant, gaining an international perspective.

Dicks wants to lower gasoline prices by putting tighter limits on leveraged investments in oil futures. On immigration, he says undocumented immigrants should be fined and not be allowed to move toward citizenship until they learn English and American civics.
The outgoing Dicks has proven potential to be a strong leader and effective campaigner.

Also on the ballot with the Democratic nominee and Republican incumbent Bilirakis in November will be Richard O. Emmons of the Term Limits for the United States Congress Party, John (Johnny) Kalimnios of Holiday who has no party affiliation, and a write-in candidate.

The Tribune strongly recommends John Dicks in the Democratic primary for U.S. House, District 9.

5th Congressional District

It's another story in the 5th Congressional District, which includes most of Pasco and all or part of seven other counties. Democrats don't have a candidate who comes close to matching Dicks' qualifications and personality to press U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, who is seeking her fourth term.



John Russell
The weak field in the Democratic primary consists of three candidates who have a habit of running for public office, though they never win.

John Russell, 52, of the Dade City area, is an acute-care nurse practitioner running for the seat a third time. He was the Democratic nominee in 2006 and captured about 40 percent of the vote in the general election.

"Grandma" Carol Castagnero of Lakeland is a 69-year-old retired school teacher and former state Senate and gubernatorial candidate. To her credit, she is surveying residents to determine which issues she should address in Washington and in the district.

H. David Werder of Spring Hill is a 53-year-old disabled truck driver who has run for Congress at least four other times. His claim to fame occurred in the early 1980s when, using a large cable spool, he camped atop a flagpole in Clearwater for 439 days to protest the price of gasoline, then 99 cents a gallon. Hence "the flag-pole sitter" reference on his ballot entry.

Russell is the most qualified candidate.

He has extensive knowledge of health care and supports an income-based, single-payer health care system that he says can rescue Medicare from insolvency and spread risk across a larger number of people. He supports a national catastrophe fund that would help Floridians hit hard by increases in insurance premiums. And he opposes lifting current restrictions on additional offshore oil drilling that could harm the environment and the state's tourism industry.

But Russell's often confrontational tactics and style are disturbing. He lacks respect for Democratic Party executives, including state party chief Karen Thurman, whom he once ambushed with a video camera at a private fundraiser like a muckraking television journalist.

Loyal Democrats hoping their party can retake the seat, which Thurman held for 10 years before Brown-Waite took advantage of redistricting to defeat her, have got to be disappointed with their choices. The Tribune recommends, with hesitation, John Russell in the Democratic primary for U.S. House, District 5, on Aug. 26.

Brown-Waite, 64, would have had primary opposition but her challenger, Jim King, of Land O' Lakes, withdrew after a published report raised questions about his background. His name will still be on the ballot, however, because his decision came after the cutoff date for finalizing the primary ballot. Residents should be careful not to waste their votes.








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On immigration, he says undocumented immigrants should be fined and not be allowed to move toward citizenship until they learn English and American civics.

Translated: he supports amnesty; typical of the rhetoric used by amnesty supporters.