Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Rivals to reprise 2000 contest to represent District 50

By Times Staff Writers
Published March 9, 2005

Ed Hooper is hunting for a place to live in state House District 50 so he can run for the seat Kim Berfield is leaving. But the Clearwater Republican faces a tougher challenge than real estate: Republican state committeewoman Nancy Riley.

Riley is running and already is considered the front-runner. As a veteran Pinellas GOP stalwart and leader in the Florida Association of Realtors, Riley has loads of contacts.

"I know the issues in my district, having been a resident for a long time," said Riley, 57, who has lived in the district for about 25 years.

Hooper had hoped to succeed Rep. Gus Bilirakis in District 48, which covers north Pinellas and part of Pasco County. But he abandoned those plans last year after Berfield decided to leave the House and run for the state Senate. Hooper hopes his name recognition in the district can blunt Riley's extensive connections. Elected twice to the Clearwater City Commission, Hooper also ran and lost against Berfield in the 2000 District 50 primary.

"A majority of the voters don't belong to the Pinellas (Republican) Executive Committee," said Hooper, who expects at least one other Republican to join the primary. "She has high visibility in Feather Sound. I may have a little higher visibility in Clearwater. Both of us are going to have to campaign hard, and I'm sure we will."

HE'S PHYSICALLY FIT, ANYWAY: If you haven't yet seen enough of aspiring state legislator Peter Nehr, get ready.

The Tarpon Springs city commissioner, who is making a big pitch to fill Gus Bilirakis' seat in 2006, is featured in a new online book, Fit Over 40. Last month, Nehr sent an e-mail to about 100 supporters with the book's page about his fitness makeover - complete with a full-body photo of Nehr in a black spandex swimsuit.

"Even though this has nothing to do with politics...," he wrote, "It acts as an inspiration to those who might think they are too old to make a change."

But Nehr, 52, said his story of how he went from begin from too out of shape to tie his own shoes to a model of fitness could help on the campaign trail.

"It would show people that if I had a certain feeling about a certain issue that I could have enough discipline to stay with that issue, even if the odds were against me if I felt this was the right thing for their state."

A DOLLAR IN THE HAND: Just because a politician has no campaign looming doesn't mean lobbyists shouldn't have an opportunity to give them money. Consider state Rep. Leslie Waters, R-Seminole, who formed a political committee and encouraged friends and lobbyists to give her money before the 2005 session started Tuesday.

"As you probably know, due to term limits, this will be my last term in the Florida House, and I will be unable to seek re-election," Waters said in recent fundraising pitch that had some lobbyists groaning.

"But that will not stop our continued efforts to improve our government throughout the state. I plan to be very active and visible in the political process both in Pinellas County and around the state. That's why I want you to know that I have established an exciting new political committee, Floridians for Florida's Future, to help ensure that the Waters wave of better government keeps rolling!"

Although she's part of House Speaker Allan Bense's leadership team, no one was under pressure to contribute, Waters said. The money will help her help other candidates, she said, and keep her future options open. If state Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, leaves office early, for instance, she might run.

Besides, she acknowledged, once she's out of office her fundraising ability will be severely crimped. What's especially thrilling for lobbyists is they don't have to worry about the usual $500 limit on campaign contributions.

For Waters, the sky's the limit.

COLLEAGUES NOW, ENEMIES LATER? With state Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, running for the District 18 state Senate seat being vacated by Les Miller next year, two St. Petersburg City Council members have weighed the possibility of succeeding Peterman.

James Bennett, whose District 5 includes southern St. Petersburg, and Earnest Williams, whose District 6 includes the downtown and Midtown neighborhoods, are eying the seat. Williams' term expires next year, while Bennett's ends in 2008.

Bennett and Williams sit next to each other at City Council meetings. When asked how contest between the two would work, Williams laughed.

"We'll just see what happens," he said.

That's not the only potential rivalry on the council. Jay Lasita and Richard Kriseman are looking at running to succeed Democrat Charlie Justice in House District 53.

JUST FACTS: The new Election Reform Coalition of Pinellas County plans forums about problems with recent elections. The forums will be Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pinellas Park Public Library, 7770 52nd St. N, and March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the James B. Sanderlin Center, 2335 22nd Ave. S in St. Petersburg. For more information call (727) 771-3705.

Staff writers Melanie Ave, Steve Bousquet, Nora Koch, Aaron Sharockman and Adam C. Smith contributed to Political Junkie.

[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:54:20]