Hillsborough commissioner considers challenging Rep. Castor

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, a Republican, is considering challenging Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, in the 11th Congressional District race next year. The district includes parts of Manatee County.

The Buzz reports:

Republican Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe is talking about challenging Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor for her Congressional seat in 2012. Sharpe, who pushed hard for the high speed rail line connecting Tampa to Orlando, said this week he wants to be able to participate in national discussions on deficit reduction and America's wars.

"The only question is how will I have that conversation," he said. "That's what I'll be announcing in August."

Sharpe, a retired Naval officer who worked on John McCain's presidential bid, is already floating a platform that could fly in Castor's heavily Democratic district. He said he disagrees with McCain's philosophies on U.S. action overseas.

"Before you send a man or woman overseas, you better understand wha tyou're going to do, how you're going to get in, and how you're going to get it out," Sharpe said. "I want to have that conversation about military affairs."

As for deficit reduction, Sharpe dismissed the budget plan put forward by Paul Ryan, and said he's interested in proposals put forward by President Barack Obama's debt-panel commission, chaired by former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, a Republican, and Erskine Bowles, a former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton.

"They spent a lot of time working on it and it just kind of got dropped. It ought to be part of the conversation," Sharpe said.

Sharpe ran for Castor's District 11 seat in 1996, but lost to Democrat Jim Davis. He was elected to the Hillsborough County Commission in 2004.

So far, the only Republican who has filed for the seat is libertarian activist Josh Kiernan of Palm Harbor, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, had announced a bid but later dropped out of the race.

Romney in Sarasota on Thursday for fund-raiser

Mitt Romney, the front-runner for now in the race for the Republican presidential nomination next year, will be in Sarasota on Thursday for a fund-raising lunch.

The event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

Organizers of the event include honorary chair state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, and his wife Dee.

The "suggested donation" for the event is $250, and the maximum allowable contribution is $2,500.

R.S.V.P. to Meredith O'Rourke at  Meredithorourke@yahoo.com or (561) 818-6064.

Sen. Mike Bennett drops bid for seat in Congress

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, today ended his bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, concluding he didn't have the needed "fire in the belly" to run for Congress.

Bennett, who last month announced a bid to unseat Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said he was overwhelmed by support he had identified across the district. But "I quickly realized that the 'fire' I was feeling was heartburn over constant fundraising, travel and the other demands of running for federal office," Bennett said in a statement.

“Watching all that is going on in Washington and knowing the constant fight that is required to make a difference there, I have decided to no longer pursue my bid for Congress."

Bennett does not currently live in the 13th Congressional District, which does include part of Manatee County. Bennett was hoping that congressional redistricting next year would take in more of Manatee and offer him a reasonable chance of winning the GOP nomination and unseating Castor. Bennett also said he would consider moving into the district, if necessary, although state law would not require him to do so.

Bennett said he was looking forward to fishing and travel when his current term in the Florida Senate ends at the end of 2012. He cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

“Let me be clear. Is this the end of my life in politics?" Bennett quipped. "You all know me better than that.”

Spat with Sen. Mike Bennett of Bradenton shows how not to lobby lawmakers

The Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau's Marc Caputo reports on how a lobbyist's disagreement with Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, illustrates how not to lobby for your cause at the Florida Legislature:

There's no official book on how to lobby, but most paid advocates know instinctively that you don't want to suggest in writing that you'll exact political retribution on a state Senator.

Fred Dudley didn't get the memo.

But Sen. Mike Bennett got a hold of an email from Dudley in which the Senator-turned-lobbyist suggested he couldn't wait until the Bradenton Republican ran for Congress. And now Dudley says he feels sorry.

It all started last week when Bennett, in the April 5 Health Regulation Committee, blasted the Florida Medical Association for being "greedy" in protecting its turf. The gaggle of FMA lobbyists and doctors were none too pleased. They began emailing each other, providing a glimpse of how one of the most powerful Capitol special interests shapes its hardball tactics.

Dr. David McKalip (made somewhat infamous by his Obama witchdoctor pic emailing) suggested treading carefully. "However if it spins out of control," McKalip wrote at 8:29 am, "we could ask this question:

"Senator Bennett achieves great financial benefit from special interest groups and collects their donations regularly. He should know that patients value doctors who are there for them far more than politicians who take check after check from special interests." (True, it's not a question and the FMA is one of the most powerful special interests, but whatever).

Rafael Miguel responded with a lighter suggestion, pointing out the policy benefits of ensuring that doctors in Florida continue to write prescriptions instead of "lesser educated and trained individuals" (e.g., nurses, optometrists).

Then the conversation turned to the next election.

"Miguel good answer, we should use that, then we should make sure he does not get re-elected!" someone named rjnmd22@aol.com wrote, referring to Bennett 
Steve West pointed out a problem with that idea: "I think this is his last term. May however run for Congress depending on redistricting."

That's when Dudley chimed in: "Steve: Hi; you are exactly correct, so let's hope the 2012 elections get here quickly and he runs for Congress."

Oops.

The email chain was then forwarded to Bennett by a source who wrote "Ur gonna love this one."
Bennett hit the roof. He could believe that his comments would provoke the FMA. But why would a pro like Dudley be so sloppy?

"A former Senator wants to target a sitting Senator over some comments and he puts it in writing? It's so unbelievably stupid," Bennett said.

What's more: Dudley is a lobbyist for Verizon, which was keenly interested in SB960, which concerns petroleum storage requirements for powering remote cell phone towers. Bennett is the sponsor.

When the matter was brought to Dudley's attention, he initially played dumb but then realized the emails had leaked out.

"I certainly intend to apologize to Senator Bennett for my unfortunate comment that was made in the heat of his battle with FMA. I'm the reason he ran for the legislature, and I'm proud to consider him one of the most effective members and a friend," Dudley said in an email yesterday.

All of it might not mean much. Bennett's bill to allow optometrists to take over some ophthalmologist practices was killed Tuesday in Health Regulation (paging Dr. Mendelsohn....) And the FMA's newest medical malpractice bill looks like it's on cruise control.

Greg Steube keeps fundraising lead

Greg Steube has maintained the fund-raising lead he established early on in the race for the District 67 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

In the first three months of this year, Steube raised $26,555, bringing the total raised to more than $176,000, according to reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections. After spending more than $26,000 in the first quarter of 2010, Steube had more than $129,000 in cash on hand.

Three other Republican candidates -- Jeremiah J. Guccione, Robert K. McCann and Marie Nisco -- have announced for the seat, but as of Monday afternoon Steube was the only one to have qualified for the Aug. 24 ballot by submitting the required number of petition signatures.

Incumber Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

The latest campaign finance reports, covering activity in the first three months of 2010, had been filed by all the campaigns, except for Guccione's, by Monday afternoon.

McCann reported raising $20,860 in contributions during the first quarter, bringing his total raised to more than $89,000; he also has loaned his campaign an additional $25,000. As of March 31, he had almost $40,000 in cash on hand.

This was the first time in the campaign that Nisco has filed a finance report. She reported no contributions or expenses, but did list a $300 loan from herself to the her campaign.

The lone Democrat in the race, Z.J. Hafeez, reported collecting more than $19,900 in cash and in-kind contributions. He spent almost $3,600, bring his cash on hand to almost $50,000 -- including a $10,000 loan from himself.

In another race of local interest, Republican Jim Boyd, the only candidate in the District 68 race, reported collecting more than $13,700 in cash and in-kind contributions, and spending almost $7,100. As of March 31, he had more than $72,000 in the bank -- including $12,500 in loans from himself.

District 68 incumbent Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

But Galvano has been busy raising money for his bid for the 21st Senate District seat now held by Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton.

In the first three months of 2010, Galvano raised almost $52,000, bringing his cash on hand to more than $168,000

To read the campaign finance reports, including the list of donors and itemized lists of expenses, go here.