Outgoing Pinellas School Board member Jane Gallucci blasted political blogs, specifically the St. Petersburg Times' Bay Buzz, during a discussion on a student anti-bullying policy at today's School Board meeting.

"The same thing that's happening on these blogs like Bay Buzz is exactly what you're talking about ... Some of the atrocious things that have been written on that blog during this campaign cycle about some of the candidates (are) untrue and journalistically are things that would not be put in the hard copy of the St. Petersburg Times, but are being allowed, and we need to say, 'Stop!' "

Gallucci clarified after the meeting that she was referring to the part of the blog posts where readers are allowed to post comments. She said there were comments on blog posts that were critical of her makeup and the way she dresses, and that alleged she had lied on her financial disclosure form.

Gallucci, who lost her bid for Pinellas County Commission in the Aug. 26 primary, suggested that the public cease patronizing advertisers who buy space on blogs like Bay Buzz because they "breed all kinds of ugliness in this community and give a venue for people who are not willing to show their faces."

Donna Winchester, Times staff writer

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