Candidate News

Charlie Justice at Tiger Bay Club on Oct 12

Charlie Justice and Bill Young (Young invited but not confirmed)

Trading a Safe Legislative Seat for a Run at Congress

For most of Congressman Bill Young's 40-year career, he has had light opposition or none at all.  But 18 months ago St. Petersburg native Charlie Justice decided not to seek a third term in the Florida Senate and instead challenge the U.S. House's longest serving Republican.  The usually low-key and friendly Justice has taken a tougher tone during the campaign, accusing Young of "corrupting the budget process" with his legendary earmarks and practicing nepotism by hiring his future daughter-in-law.  The quiet race is heating up in the final six weeks.  Justice has youth on his side and deep local roots, cultivated during 10 years as a state legislator.  Young has a fund-raising advantage and a strong following of his own. Come to the den and decide for yourself whether it is time for a change. 

(Rep. Young is recuperating from back surgery.  He has indicated he will join the meeting for a debate if his recovery and schedule permit.)

RSVP DEADLINE: Friday, October 8th

Feather Sound Country Club
2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater

Click here to RSVP online.

Charlie Justice - Community Video

Janet Long Campaign

Representative Janet Long will be holding a campaign fundraiser and general election kickoff event Wednesday, September 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Max & Sam's at 1700 Park Street North.

Local HD50 Candidate Shelly Leonard attends kick off for the Milk Party...

"Shelly Leonard at MIlk Party kick-off  By Martine Powers, Times Staff Writer
CLEARWATER - Shelly Leonard, 37, came to the launch of the "Milk Party" campaign Monday afternoon to find out one thing. What will the Children's Movement of Florida do to help local children with special needs? Leonard, a Clearwater resident, has two sons with muscular disabilities. She couldn't find adequate...

The purpose of the "Milk Party," DavidLawrence (leader of the movement & former Miami Herald publisher)said, is to encourage business leaders and politicians to push for issues such as quality children's health care and parent education.

Meek is the REAL Democrat in this race (video)

Speaking out on oil disaster has given Sink's campaign a new focus

 In an June 18 article, writers Mary Ellen Klas and John Frank note that FLorida CFO and  Gubernatorial Candidate Alex Sink's fierce advocacy on behalf of small businesses adversely impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster has provided a needed focus and boosted her otherwise tepid campaign.

The article cites how Sink has "worked to position herself as the spokesperson for small businesses crippled by the catastrophe", including her tough criticism of both BP and the Administration.  In a meeting with President Obama, Sink told him to "take over the claims process" and "send BP the bill".  

... For months, her campaign was criticized for losing momentum as she cautiously avoid taking a position on health care reform and other issues until McCollum started raising more money and opened a lead in the polls. .... Sink's focus on the failures of the system to respond to businesses has gotten attention.  On the same day she sat at a picnic table with President Obama at a Pensacola pier, she earning television appearances in every major media market in the state and a beachside interview with MS-NBC's Dylan Ratigan.

 <<full article>> 

Rep. Kendrick Meek on the BP Oil Spill at AFN Conference (with Video)

Rep. Meek gave a powerful speech at the America's Future Now conference in DC this week.   Here are some highlights of the speech:

 

Florida Race gets messy: WSJ chimes in on FL US Senate Race!

Democrat Kendrick Meek may stand a chance in Florida if Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio split the conservative vote

Some good quotes from the June 8, 2010 article by Stephen Moore

... Mr. Crist currently enjoys a slight lead, while Mr. Meek is a distant third with 20%, but that could change in a hurry. This is a state, after all, that went for Barack Obama in 2008, where Democrats have a voter-registration advantage of half a million, and where Democrats won three of the last four Senate races... ...Mr. Crist avidly sought the AFL-CIO endorsement, which may explain his veto several weeks ago of a common-sense teacher tenure reform bill. But Mr. Meek got the nod (and the union money sure to follow) and has followed up by continuing to attack Mr. Crist as a Johnny-come-lately liberal on issues like oil-drilling and stimulus spending...

Read full article

Kendrick Meek releases tax returns

In Print: Tuesday, May 18, 2010  (St. Pete Times)

..."Kendrick has filed his Senate Financial Disclosure Report, but he has gone even further by releasing the last seven years of his tax returns. Today, we are challenging all senate candidates in the name of transparency and accountability to do the same and release their taxes too....

read more

Bob Hackworth Qualifies for November Ballot by Petition (with video)

From his April 28th Press Release:

Just eight weeks after announcing his candidacy for Pinellas County Commission, Bob Hackworth's campaign collected the required 1684 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. Hackworth personally collected over 1100 signatures by knocking on doors and attending community events; dedicated campaign volunteers were staged throughout the county and collected the remaining petitions needed to reach this goal.... Bob Hackworth is a Democrat running for Pinellas County Commission, District 4, against ten-year incumbent, Susan Latvala. Hackworth is a small business owner and resides in Dunedin with his wife and two children. Hackworth was elected Mayor of Dunedin in 2006 and was elected twice before that to the Dunedin City Commission.