First, you insult them. Then you forget them.

At least that would be the lesson one might surmise from Tim Caddell's performance Wednesday morning at the Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce breakfast. Caddell, Pinellas Park's government relations guy, was moderating a panel of six state legislators. He said they'd speak in alphabetical order with the representatives coming first "because house members speak without thinking," he said, drawing a chuckle.

Rep. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, opened. Then Caddell skipped over Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and introduced Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg. Kriseman pointed out the gaff, suggesting Caddell needed to relearn the alphabet. Caddell quipped the problem had gotten his office booted from the city library.

Then Hooper chimed in, Caddell "says we don't think and passes over me. Clearly, the next round of budget cuts have been decided early. You know who to blame."

--Anne Lindberg, Times staff writer