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8 Comments:
At 3:39 PM, November 27, 2005, Anonymous said…
This is the way politics works in
Pinellas County. The development
interests fund the campaigns in
St. Petersburg, Clearwater, the
Beaches and County Commission. The
Times backs those candidates with
endorsements. Why should it surprise us that the politicians are paid off with more than just
campaign contributions?
The worst part of this is that it
does not seem to even shock or upset a sufficient number of voters to make a difference. The
St. Petersburg city elections were a replay of this developer-Times
coalition with 100% success.
At 7:26 PM, November 27, 2005, Reality said…
Another Ed Helm hippie whiner. Get over it already.
At 10:09 PM, November 27, 2005, Myrtle B. said…
If Brian Aungst was relevant, perhaps this would matter more.
At 12:33 PM, November 28, 2005, Anonymous said…
3:39 11/27 An.
I did not vote for Ed Helm.
Having said that, it is a corrupt
system that is made by the overlapping interests of developers
and the Times. Both groups profit
from growth - well done or badly
done.
At 8:16 PM, November 28, 2005, A.L.C. said…
So many damned conspiracy theories-- did the class president cut the line or not? Boo hoo. There is no story here. It was above-board. Aungst would have advocated the developement regardless-- anyone familiar with his policies knows that. The fact that he further pursued one of the units himself should come as no surprise. And if Cheezem set aside the unit for the Mayor to unknowingly pick the next day, then that is a question of Cheezem's business ethics, not Aungst's political ethics, isn't it? Should Aungst have disclosed his financial interest-- to the extent that the post-hoc image of real estate speculation qualifies as such-- yes, he should have. But is this really unethical conduct by Aungst? Hardly.
Brian Augnst is a good man. And this Sharockman story is really grasping at straws. Haven't had enough local scandals lately, Paul?
At 11:46 AM, November 29, 2005, Anonymous said…
Our Pinellas County politicians are bought day-in-and-day-out. If the campaign money comes from Developers and Land Use Attorneys, what the hell do you expect? Look behind every Pinellas County politician and you'll find millions in real estate deals. As far as Ed Helm goes, why would you disrespect someone who risked a great deal to give voters a choice… a choice in leadership, what a concept huh?
Don’t forget the 2000+ young American men and women who have died in Iraq so they might have the opportunity to choose their leadership in a free democracy. The very same democracy you mock when you criticize anyone who steps up to the plate so that you might have a choice?
So stop bitching about it and vote!
At 10:45 PM, November 29, 2005, Anonymous said…
Who is the guy who currently runs the Pinellas County cable franchise?
Name him.
Can't do it? Neither can I.
And that highlights my greatest objection to Brian Aungst as a public official of any sort. Before he ran for Clearwater Mayor, he was the most relentlessly in your face personality on television. If you had basic cable during those years, you saw Brian Aungst morning, noon and night. You saw him more than the Bay City Plywood guys, Larry Beltz, and the Tire Kingdom dude.
Brian Aungst was the face of the cable franchise - an entity that was in a contractual relationship with the County and municipalities of Pinellas. He used that position to build name recognition sufficient to win Mayor, and then he didn't just lose a Countywide race, but he lost all possible momentum.
May he fade into the same pit of obscurity that swallowed Chuck(never a drop of treated water) Rainey and the coke sniffing, prostitute hiring County Commissioner Bruce Tyndall.
At 10:42 PM, June 01, 2006, USMA44 said…
Aungst still has twice the name id as most of the local political hacks. His tenure was like a shooting star, a politician who did exaclty what he said he'd do and had the spine to stand up and bring his city into the 21st century. Unlike most the pols around here you never had to guess what side of an issue he'd pick on any given day. He put what he believed was right over his own political ambitions and that was a breath of fresh air for a county that is otherwise devoid of genuine leaders. If he decides he wants to get back into public service he'd be a formidable candidate in any local race.
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