Days before winning Tuesday's primary, Democratic Pinellas County Commission candidate Rene Flowers learned her credit card company was suing her for nonpayment on just over $1,000 in debt.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 14, came to light Wednesday as Flowers' primary opponent, Darden Rice, absorbed what she called a "kidney blow" of an election loss. Rice, who has yet to concede, could do so as early as today.
The race for the Democratic nomination in District 3 was one of Tampa Bay's closest elections, with just 252 votes separating the two candidates after initial tallies of the 33,152 ballots cast.
Both Rice and Flowers ran largely positive campaigns, but Rice said Wednesday had she known of the lawsuit, she probably would have made it an issue.
"I think that would have had traction," Rice said. "It would have said something about her judgment; it may have even said something about her character."
Flowers said health problems and a decision to forgo one of her two salaries in early 2007 forced her to let payments to Capital One Bank slide, but that she intends to pay the debt as quickly as possible.
She learned of the lawsuit late last week, Flowers said, when she was served with court papers.
Today, election officials are reviewing a handful of ballots cast by voters whose eligibility could not be verified at the polls. Even if Rice were to get all the outstanding votes, she cannot prevail and will fall just shy of triggering a recount.
Rice said Wednesday she was unwilling to bow out until the final votes are tallied out of fairness to her supporters, but that she expected no "eleventh-hour miracles" and planned no challenges.
Once the ballots are reviewed this afternoon and any valid ones added to the vote total, Rice said she was prepared to concede and urge fellow Democrats to support Flowers.
By Rice's own admission the loss stings, given her high hopes for victory and the fact that she outspent Flowers by more than three to one.
"There's a lot of tortuous would have, could have, should haves," Rice said. "It's frustrating because we lost by a field goal. We didn't lose by a touchdown."
Rice said she'll now turn her focus toward her job as project director for an international environmental group. She has no plans to again seek office.
Flowers said her money woes began two years ago when she sat on the St. Petersburg City Council. She was paid $38,000 a year as a council member, plus a $150 monthly expense allowance. She also earned roughly $60,000 as vice president of a nonprofit, Community Action Coalition, Flowers said.
In September 2006, Flowers underwent a partial hysterectomy, which she said forced her to curb her work for the nonprofit. Then, in early 2007, after the nonprofit began to lose federal funding, she resigned.
In 2007, Flowers served on the council and as president of the Florida League of Cities, which does not offer a salary.
As a single mother of three children, Flowers said she has struggled recently to cover her bills. At some point in 2007, Flowers said, she stopped paying the credit card bill, which had a monthly payment she estimated at $50.
"Things got tight financially," said Flowers, 43. "My daughter was in college. I had to make some decisions and let some things float."
Flowers now makes about $33,000 a year for Neighborly Care Network, a nonprofit that works with seniors. She said money remains tight, but she will repay the credit card debt.
Republican School Board member Nancy Bostock will face Flowers on Nov. 4.
>>bios
Rene Flowers
Flowers, 43, served on the St. Petersburg City Council from 1999 to early 2008. A St. Petersburg native, she's a former president of the Florida League of Cities. She's now a program manager at Neighborly Care Network, a nonprofit that works with seniors.
Darden Rice
Rice, 38, was regional representative of the Sierra Club from 2001 until 2007. She's a former vice president of both the St. Petersburg Area League of Women Voters and the Council of Neighborhood Associations. She now works for Oceana, an international ocean protection group.
A history of public service
Who are Rene Flowers, left, and Darden Rice? Their careers show they both are committed to professions in the nonprofit sector. But what else can be gleaned from their biographical information. Bios, 8B
[Last modified: Sep 04, 2008 04:56 PM]
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