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Mad Dash On To the General Election
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Published: September 20, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - After a bit of a lull following the primary, candidates are gearing up for the sprint to the finish line for the Nov. 4 general election.
After virtually no surprises in the primary, it remains to be seen if voters will play it safe with familiar faces or if the turmoil in the economy and other national trends will breed discontent spilling over into local races.
Several developments signal the mad dash with slightly more than six weeks left to sway voters.
West Pasco Chamber of Commerce announced its Oct. 7 and Oct. 9 candidate forums.
A sizable Pasco delegation joined Louie Rodriguez, the president of the Pasco chapter of Club Politico, at the Tampa rally for Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Some 19,000 absentee ballots are hitting the mail so far, Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley reports.
And candidates such as state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, are hitting the bricks to walk precincts and go door to door to chat with voters.
The chamber forums have become a sure sign of fall, along with falling temperatures.
The chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee will hold both events at Pasco-Hernando Community College West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, Chamber President Joe Alpine reports.
The public is invited, although the preliminary debates in August for the primary usually were packed by campaign leaders with supporters wearing the same style of shirts.
The forums next month will save the best for last - the sheriff candidates, who typically draw the biggest crowds.
Republican incumbent Sheriff Bob White and Democratic challenger Kim Bogart will be the last to take the stage on Thursday night.
The first night of debates on Tuesday, Oct. 7, will open at 5 p.m. with superintendent of schools candidates.
Republican incumbent Heather Fiorentino will face off against Democratic challenger Stephen Donaldson.
At 6 p.m., Florida House of Representatives District 46 will be the focus. Republican incumbent John Legg will go up against Democrat Ron Rice and nonpartisan candidate John J. Ubele.
Next up at 7 p.m. will be Florida Senate District 11 candidates. Fasano is facing Democrat Fred Taylor.
Closing the first night, at 8 p.m., will be U.S. House candidates. In a rematch, District 5 incumbent Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, will face Democrat challenger John Russell. Bill Mitchell will carry the Democratic Party banner in a bid to unseat District 9 incumbent Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor.
The Thursday debate slate will open at 5 p.m. with Pasco clerk of circuit court candidates. Republican Paula O'Neill will face Democrat Robert Altman for the open seat vacated by the retiring clerk, Republican Jed Pittman.
Supervisor of election candidates will follow at 6 p.m. Republican Brian Corley, the current supervisor appointed to the job, will try to hold onto the office against Democrat Patricia Carroll.
A doubleheader of sorts follows at 7 p.m. with county commissioner candidates in District 3 and District 5.
Republican incumbent Ann Hildebrand squares off against Democrat Teresa Conroy in District 3. Republican incumbent Jack Mariano will face Democrat challenger Virginia "Ginny" Miller in District 5.
The main bout of the night is scheduled for 8 p.m. as White seeks to become the first sheriff to win a third term in recent memory.
Standing in his way will be Bogart, who seeks to unseat the Republican incumbent. Unaffiliated candidate Bobby Kinzy is the wild card in the race.
Absentee ballots are the rough equivalent to a wild joker in a deck of cards. In tight races, they can tip the balance.
Absentee ballots for the general election became available Wednesday, and more than 19,000 are ready to mail to voters who have requests already on file, Corley announced.
Until Oct. 29, people can still request an absentee to be mailed by calling the supervisor of elections office toll-free at 1-800-851-8754, by submitting a written request or by using the online request form at www.pascovotes.com>.
An absentee ballot must be returned to the elections' office by 7 p.m. election day on Nov. 4 in order to count.
To return an absentee by mail, 83 cents in postage is necessary.
Or the ballots can be dropped off at any of the four Supervisor of Elections' Offices in Pasco County. Voted absentee ballots may not be turned in at the polls on Election Day.
Fasano campaign
This morning, Saturday, Fasano and his supporters are scheduled to go door to door to chat with voters, according to Tim Couet of the Senate campaign arm of the Republican Party of Florida.
Fasano is seeking his final four-year term in the Florida Senate before term limits force him out of the Senate.
Supporters will gather 9:30 a.m. at Fasano campaign headquarters, 7712 Massachusetts Ave. New Port Richey. Fasano and his crew will walk precincts from 10 a.m. to noon.
Lunch will be provided for those staying after the walk.
People who want to participate can call Couet at 727-254-9998.
Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.
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