ST. PETERSBURG -- Educator Pamella Settlegoode is one of a handful of mayoral and City Council candidates who filed waivers to get out of paying an election assessment fee as required by the state.

Settlegoode said she declined to pay the roughly $400 fee in protest of what amounts to a "poll tax."

"It just doesn't feel right for me to have to pay the state of Florida to run for office," she said in a phone interview Monday. "I feel like it is highly unconstitutional. I object to it on those grounds."

Settlegoode was awarded $1 million in 2004 after a court found Portland public schools had violated her civil rights and fired her for complaining about discrimination against her special-education students.

She defended her claim that the fee was an undue burden.

"I don't have a million dollars, let me make that clear," she said. "A lawsuit is one thing. Oh, you win a million dollars, but you have lawyers to pay and you've been without work for three years."

However, she added, "I am comfortable."

Mayoral hopefuls Paul Congemi, Ed Helm, Richard Eldridge and John Warren, and City Council candidates Joe Smith, Derrick Frohne and Vel Thompson also claimed the fee was an undue burden.

Mayoral hopefuls had to pay roughly $1,600. 

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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