Angela Rouson stepped into the Creative Loafing recording studio this week to discuss her campaign for St. Petersburg City Council in District 5, against fellow newcomers Steve Kornell and retired police officer Joe Smith. Yes, she’s the wife of powerhouse (and controversial) African American politician Darryl Rouson; but she came off as her own person — bright, articulate, well-informed and passionate — in her recent Suncoast Tiger Bay Club event, and she likewise was engaging in this interview.

I asked her if she felt that St. Pete cops were being “reined in” and not fighting crime to the fullest of their ability, and she said:

I’ve talked with the sheriff, Sheriff Coats, I’ve talked with Chief Harmon (and done ride-alongs with both agencies), and the general consensus is there is some of that. And there is also a lack of resources to be able to address issues, because if you are going to take down, for example, a drug house, you need more than one officer on the beat. I think they are being held back to some extent, but I think resources play into that as well.

Is there a racial political component to the police being held back?

I can’t really answer that question. But what I can say is there is no rational reason for not addressing the crime. …As a member of City Council I’m going to work to make sure that the mayor works with the chief of police to be more aggressive in addressing the issues.

I also asked her — given her husband’s controversial anti-gay statement that being gay was “morally wrong” (he later apologized for saying it) — if she would participate in St. Pete Pride and about her stance on domestic partner benefits. Hear her answers after the jump in the full podcast:

Download the interview here.

Brian Blair: the political action figure, fighting for the rights of parents everywhere

You knew this was coming: Brian Blair has started his comeback bid after being cleared of child-abuse charges in a fight with his sons, even as he also fights elections law charges in connection with checks he accepted during his failed 2008 campaign.

Blair, in an exclusive sit-down with News Channel 8 set to air tonight at 11, said:

As he reflected on the incident, Blair found two problems. First, parents must be able to physically discipline their children without fear of arrest. Second, elected leaders should adopt a curfew.

“Parents are afraid to discipline their children, afraid someone will pick up the phone,” and call police, Blair said.

So let’s get this straight: Blair’s new political profile will include pushing for a law allowing parents to hit their kids and pushing for something that has already been ruled unconstitutional, the government curfew.

News Channel 8 is touting this interview with Gayle Sierens. Let’s hope Gayle explored this whacky scenario a bit more:

Here’s how the night started, according to Blair:

He had been at a charity event and ended the evening with some friends at a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s having chicken wings and beer. “Nothing excessive,” he said.

Blair woke hungry about 3:30 a.m. and decided to cook salmon. He heard a commotion near the front door and found his two sons, Brett, 17, and Bradley, 14, along with two of their teenage friends.
“Needless to say, I was upset,” Blair said.

OK, non-excessive beer drinking, salmon at 3:30 am. Anyone out there believe that version??

By George Niemann
PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist

It looks like Commissioner Ken Hagan has decided to become the first point of contact for all county residents with problems.

As you may recall, Wayne Garcia reported that Hagan (District 2) has been distributing fliers in District 1 in what the Hillsborough County Commission chairman calls a public service gesture.  As it turns out, the distribution of these fliers is heralding a new method of operation for the county,  which is the brainchild of Hagan. During these hard economic times, Hagan has decided to singlehandedly re-engineer the way the county does business.

Interestingly enough, the flier says that Hagan wants to know about any issues that county residents have. He also encourages everyone to contact him saying, “Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of service.” Well, I decided to ask the commissioner if he really meant that. Is he going to work on anyone’s issue, regardless of which district they’re in? Does that mean that he intends to be the first point of contact for all of the districts??? I got some surprising answers when I called his office.

I spoke with Hagan’s senior aide, Rich Reidy by telephone on Monday. Reidy emphatically supports his boss’s idea of being the first point of contact for any inquiries, on a countywide basis. Here’s how Reidy responded to my questions:

“Are you going to take care of the problems for District 1 if people call?”
Reidy: “We’re going to try, if we can.”

“So we (all Hillsborough residents) can call from any district and you’ll work on it (problems) and if you can’t solve it, you’ll then refer it to whoever has that district?”
“That’s the indication that the commissioner has given us.”

“When I talk to the other district offices they say they’re inundated … they say that there’s not enough hours in the day, and they’re just handling their own district, so I’m wondering how you can handle all four districts, including your own?”
“We don’t know how we’re going to deal with that. I guess if it starts to become a problem, we’ll have to address it with the commissioner.”

“So it looks like we have a new process flow here in Hillsborough. This is what the new process will look like…

I always thought that for a change of this magnitude, the other commissioners would have to agree on having a single district (District 2) being the first point of contact for all Hillsborough residents. I guess the other commissioner’s staffs will now get a little breathing room knowing that the District 2 staff will solve most of the incoming problems and that they’ll only be used as a backup. Hell, it sure beats trying to remember seven different telephone numbers! Maybe we no longer need seven districts.

In any case, let’s test this new process out to make sure it works well.  If you’re within the boundaries of Hillsborough and you have a problem, a question, or if you need anything from a Hillsborough commissioner, be sure to call Ken Hagan first, on 813-272-5452.

The DCCC announced a new robocall, e-mail and text message camnpaign aimed at hurting 12 Republicans who were prominent in voting against the Obama stimulus plan.

DailyKos says:

Here’s an example of the automated calls that will be running:

Hello, I’m calling on behalf of House Democrats with an important message about the economy.

Did you know Congressman Thad McCotter voted against President Obama’s economic recovery plan, endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? McCotter’s empty rhetoric can’t hide that he voted to raise the AMT tax on 22 million middle class Americans and against the largest tax cut in history.

Call McCotter at 734-632-0314 to ask why he voted to raise taxes on middle class families.

Check out Recovery For America to learn more.

On the list of the dirty dozen is Putnam, who has already announced he is leaving his congressional office to run for the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture.

Now, of course the DCCC knows that Putnam is going bye-bye; it is already trying to field good candidates to run for that seat. But still, running the robocalls in either an attempt to sway his votes over the next year and a half or as punishment for his future political ambitions seems to waste precious campaign dollars.

The Senate is the only federal office carrying a six-year term, so a decision about whether to run for re-election is one that my family and I have carefully considered over the past year. It was a question that came to mind as I wrote my book – causing me to reflect on the path I’ve chosen, and to think about, with love and gratitude, those who’ve traveled with me.

The inescapable truth, for me, is that the call to public service is strong, but the call to home, family and lifelong friends is even stronger.

So today, with deep love for this country and with sincere gratitude to the people who placed their trust in me, I announce that I will not run for reelection to the United States Senate.

(full text after the jump)

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Martinez’s fundraising had lagged, hurt by a probe into his 2004 campaign.

And until Martinez made his surprising announcement, it wasn’t going to be Florida CFO Alex Sink, either. Sink had signaled to numerous reporters that she was taking a pass on the 2010 Senate race in favor of sitting tight as the highest-ranking elected Democrat in the state. But in the aftermath of Martinez’s surprise, Sink is rethinking the race, according to March on Politics:

Suddenly, after Sen. Mel Martinez’s announcement that he won’t run for re-election, Alex Sink’s staff is retracting her leaked plans to forgo the Senate race. “I spoke too soon—there’s not going to be an announcement today,” a Sink spokeswoman said.

Unnamed sources close to Sink had spread the word among reporters this morning that she would run for re-election to her chief financial officer seat in 2010 rather than seek the Martinez Senate seat. A formal announcement would be coming before lunchtime, they said.

Best guess: The Martinez pull-out puts Sink back into it, since she has been looking for either an open Senate seat or Governor’s race for her next jump up. But she won’t be alone in the primary. Expect lots of other Democrats to take a look, including former state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber and South Florida state Sen. Dave Aronberg.

On the GOP side, it will be a free-for-all, with Attorney General Bill McCollum clearly coveting the return trip to Washington that he tried to win in 2004. The deep GOP bench could also find players such as former House Speaker Marco Rubio and Sen. Dan Webster. More to come on this speculation, and that’s all it is for now.

Statement of Sen. Mel Martinez, released today:

If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that life can have many wonderful detours from where you think you’re going. These result from chance, adversity, and a call to duty.

As a teenager growing up in Cuba, I saw comfort and the rule of law replaced by tyranny and communist oppression. I saw people beaten for practicing their faith. I remember those who spoke out vanishing – never to be seen again. My parents, with the help of the Catholic Church, sent me here, to the United States – a place to be safe until we could be reunited.

It was here that I learned the greatness of this country – and the genuine goodness of the American people. I lived with two foster families – good, decent, loving people who answered a call from the pulpit one Sunday to take in a boy they did not know, from a country they had never seen, who spoke a language they did not understand.

I thank God for the Young and Berkmeyer families. They helped me understand what it means to be American – what it is to aspire to live the American dream – and the profound virtue of giving back to your community.

After four years I was reunited with my family. I went to college and law school. I met the woman who would become my best friend, my partner and counsel. Kitty and I settled in Orlando – my only true home after I left Cuba. We started a family, sent our two older children, Lauren and John, to Bishop Moore High School – the same school I attended – and where our younger son, Andrew, started as a freshman this year. Orlando is where I built a law practice, and where I was encouraged to become an active member of this vibrant and growing community.

After years of involvement in numerous community organizations and boards and with encouragement from many friends, I threw my hat into the political ring, running for Orange County Mayor.

“What an honor it would be,” I thought, “to serve as Mayor of the community that took me in.” It was a race where I started in last place. Pundits openly wondered whether a Hispanic could be elected Orange County Mayor at a time when only 5% of the registered voters in our county were Hispanic.

So in November of 1998 I began my term believing that after four – or maybe eight years at most – I would return to the private sector. Neither my family nor I had planned or hoped for anything different.

You all know that one thing led to another. From Mayor, I went to serve in the President’s Cabinet. From there, I made the run for U.S. Senate. Again, I started in last place, ran against an impressive field of candidates who had the resources and statewide recognition that should have ended my run early on. Those who volunteered with me knew the odds were against us; no other office holder had been elected on their first statewide run.

But we persevered. We proved the American Dream is alive and well, especially when an immigrant arriving here with nothing can one day be elected to serve in the United States Senate.

The Senate is the only federal office carrying a six-year term, so a decision about whether to run for re-election is one that my family and I have carefully considered over the past year. It was a question that came to mind as I wrote my book – causing me to reflect on the path I’ve chosen, and to think about, with love and gratitude, those who’ve traveled with me.

The inescapable truth, for me, is that the call to public service is strong, but the call to home, family and lifelong friends is even stronger.

So today, with deep love for this country and with sincere gratitude to the people who placed their trust in me, I announce that I will not run for reelection to the United States Senate.

I thank all of those who helped me reach the highest elected office that an immigrant can hold in this great country. And I especially thank my family, who has supported me every step of the way – especially Kitty, who has sacrificed much more than me and without whom none of this would have been possible.

Some might try to characterize this decision in terms of political affairs. Some will say a re-election campaign would have been too difficult. But I’ve faced much tougher odds in political campaigns and in life. My decision was not based on reelection prospects, but on what I want to do with the next eight years of my life.

The thought of devoting more time to my roles as husband, dad, granddad, brother and son to the family I love and cherish, and to be “Mel” to the friends I miss – makes this decision far easier than one might think.

So with two years left in my term, I make this announcement today in order to give the many qualified individuals who might choose to try to succeed me an opportunity to organize and gather support.

I look forward to serving out these next two years. There are big problems facing Florida and the nation, and I will continue to do what I think is in the best interests of the people whom I represent.

Thank you; God bless you; and God Bless the United States of America. I’m happy to entertain a couple of questions.

En la vida hay muchas rutias que nos llevan donde nunca pensamos llegar.

Asi ha sido en mi vida. De venir a esta gran nación solo, cuando mis padres llenos de ansiedad me enviaron en el programa de Pedro Pan, hasta nuestra reunión familiar en esta tierra de libertad.

Depuse de mucha participación en actividades comunitarias decidí postularme para alcalde, gané dicha elección de alcalde del condado Orange.

Desde ahí mucho ha pasado, tuve el gran honor de servir en el Gabinete del Presidente Bush. Siendo el primer Cubano-Americano en llegar ha dicho escaño. Desde ahí salte a la elección para Senador.

Algo improbable, pero con gran ayuda de mi comunidad logré dicha meta y provar que el sueño Americano aun vive. Pude ser el primer imigrante Latino y primer Cubano-Americano de ser senador.

He llegado al puesto más alto que un imigrante pueda llegar en esta gran nación.

Pero la decisión de seguir en la vida pública es muy personal, por lo tanto hoy anuncio que no seré candidato a la reelección para el Senador de los Estados Unidos.

Les expreso mi profundo agradecimiento a todos los que me han ayudado a llegar a esta gran posición, especialmente mi familia. En los próximos dos años que quedar en mi termino oficial hare todo lo posible por servir a este gran estado y este gran pais. Gracias.

Here’s my favorite all-time description of Stone, from Jeffrey Toobin in The New Yorker earlier this year:

While the Republican Party usually claims Ronald Reagan as its inspiration, Stone represents the less discussed but still vigorous legacy of Richard Nixon, whose politics reflected a curious admixture of anti-Communism, social moderation, and tactical thuggery. Stone believes that Nixonian hardball, more than sunny Reaganism, is John McCain’s only hope for the Presidency.

Now, The Daily Beast’s Bejamin Sarlin has an interview with Stone in which the GOP operative says he is sorry for his role in pushing FLA over to the W column:

“There have been many times I’ve regretted it,” Stone told me over pizza at Grand Central Station. “When I look at those double-page New York Times spreads of all the individual pictures of people who have been killed [in Iraq], I got to think, ‘Maybe there wouldn’t have been a war if I hadn’t gone to Miami-Dade. Maybe there hadn’t have been, in my view, an unjustified war if Bush hadn’t become president.’ It’s very disturbing to me.”

Stone voted for Bush in 2004 as well (“John Kerry was an elitist buffoon”) but he pulled no punches in his assessment of the last eight years. Stone’s own political philosophy is libertarian, and he says it conflicts with Bush’s penchant for expanded executive power.

“I think across the board he’s led the party to its current position, which means losing both houses of congress and now the White House,” Stone said. “How can you be conservative and justify wiretapping people without a warrant? We’re supposed to be the party of personal freedom and civil liberties. Big brother listening in on your phone calls—I got a problem with that.”

Ya think, Roger?

Young likes to spend much of his money with well-known local consultants. Rocky Pennington’s Direct Mail Systems was paid $102,000 for printing, design and mailing services; Jack Hebert’s Mallard Group got $13,000 for brochures and online work.

More than just consultants did OK by Young. The Tampa Bay Rays got $7,500 for a luxury box rental for a fundraiser. The Hilton Carillon Hotel was paid $40,000 for a fund-raising event. The Pinellas County Republican Party got a solid $10K donation from the congressman. And Clear Channel Outdoor, a billboard company, was paid $42,000 so that Young’s message could beam down from on high into cars traveling the highways of the district.

Democratic challenger Bob Hackworth had less money to dole out, just $148,000. Alabama-based pollster Anzalone Liszt Reserach got $17,500. St. Petersburg Democratic general consultant Gregory Wilson’s Politicus/Parsons-Wilson was paid nearly $30,000 for consulting, printing and a variety of other campaign services. La.-based consultant Steve Verzwyvelt, Jr. was paid $17,500 to manage the race.

No, you don’t. And that’s exactly what Kevin Beckner’s campaign manager, Mitch Kates, predicted. He’s currently slightly ahead of incumbent Brian Blair, who has yet to concede as early votes are still being counted.

Check out Kates’ prescient concerns from this video, shot at 10:30 p.m. on Election Night at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City:

Palm Beach Post: John McCain made his final pitch for Florida’s crucial 27 electoral votes here this morning, then planned to hit six other states today in a bid to pull off a come-from-behind presidential victory.

“The pundits may not know it, the Democrats may not know it, but the Mac is back,” a raspy-voiced McCain told a crowd of more than 1,000 outside Raymond James Stadium.

McCain was introduced by Gov. Charlie Crist and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Mike Allstot. He was interrupted at one point by competing chants of “Nobama, Nobama” and “U.S.A., U.S.A.”

Orlando Sentinel: A defiant John McCain made one final plea to Florida voters this morning, imploring supporters at a boisterous rally here to ignore polls suggesting the election may be out of reach and turn out to vote Tuesday.

Nothing is inevitable,” McCain told the cheering and chanting throng of about 1,000 outside Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. “We never hide from history. We make history!”

Resurrecting the slogan that carried him through his improbable, come-from-behind run to the Republican nomination during the primaries, McCain told the crowd, “The pundits may not know it, the Democrats may not know it, but the Mac is back!”

Tampa Tribune: John McCain just completed a speech of less than 15 minutes, clearly intended to rouse the crowd, end quickly and speed him on his way to his planned tour today of seven battleground states including Florida.

One of his main messages to the crowd was to ignore polls and predictions that Obama is winning.

“The pundits may not know and the Dems may not know it, but the Mac is back. We’re going to win this election,” he said.

St. Petersburg Times: John McCain just finished a quick, rousing speech in Tampa. “We will win Florida and we will win this race. There is one day left until we take America in a new direction, my friends. We need your help and we win!…Nothing is inevitable here! We never give up, we never quit!”

He talked about the troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan in victory, not defeat. He talked about his records fighting for change in Washington, and Barack Obama’s lack thereof. And he talked about cutting taxes, not raising them.

“Sen Obama’s massive tax increases would kill jobs, make our economy worse,” McCain said, drawing cheers of No-Bama! No-Bama”

“Nothing is inevitable here! We never give up, we never quit!”