Hoping he can rebound from the biggest crisis of his eight-year political career, Jamie Bennett on Monday vowed to stay in the mayor's race despite calls for him to pull out and the possibility of state elections and ethics probes.

"The Bennett signs went up this weekend," said Bennett, who has served on City Council since 2001. "We're going to keep fighting for this. I still consider myself the best candidate."

Story here.  Troxler's take here.

"Given that Schorsch has a previous history of being a liar and dirtbag, I don't believe any of it," said Jack Tunstill, a leading advocate for Albert Whitted Airport, one of Bennett's most notable constituencies. "Jamie's proceeding on. And Schorsch is a snake in the grass."

"Peter's background obviously speaks for itself," said state Rep. Rick Kriseman. "I understand wanting to give someone a second chance, but I don't know if you would want to put someone in that position. I wouldn't."

Council member Karl Nurse said he left a Creative Loafing story about Schorsch's personal blog on Bennett's desk. On the newsprint, Nurse wrote, "run, Forest, run."

"It was obviously bad judgment to hire Peter," said Nurse.

Adam Smith, Times Political Editor