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Sykes paperwork error keeps him out of State House race

 
Published June 30, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG Two years ago, the Rev. Manuel Sykes wasn't happy.

A planned run for a congressional seat in Pinellas County was thwarted by the local Democratic party via voicemail. The then-chair left Sykes, a Baptist minister and longtime civil rights leader, a message telling him that he'd be a "persona non grata" if he ran against Republican David Jolly in the 13th Congressional District.

Sykes didn't run. But the political fallout and resulting intraparty squabble led to chairman Mark Hanisee's ouster in December 2014.

Then last year, Sykes again considered a run for the same congressional district, but didn't pull the trigger.

In early June, during Sunday service at Bethel Community Baptist Church, Sykes, 59, took to the pulpit and announced his plans to run for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

The next day, he told the Tampa Bay Times things would be different this time around in his run for House District 70, a minority-heavy district (47 percent black and 19 percent Latino) spanning parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

"I won't be daunted this time," Sykes said. "I'm not kissing the rings of anyone this time."

The outcome, however, was not so different. For the third year in a row, Sykes' plans to run for office were thwarted.

But this time it wasn't a cold shoulder from the party or a dirty political trick that ended Sykes' candidacy — it was his own mistake.

He forgot to sign a disclosure form in the candidate paperwork he mailed on the day before the June 24 qualifying deadline.

A sheepish Sykes said Tuesday that it was his own fault, a result of a late decision to run and a last-minute rush to get his qualifying check and accompanying documents to Tallahassee in time for that day's noon deadline.

"I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off," he said.

State Department of Elections officials didn't return calls for comment this week, but Sykes said they told him officials didn't have time to alert him that his paperwork was incomplete.

"They are sticklers for detail," Sykes said.

He isn't blaming the state. He acknowledged that it was his responsibility to fill the forms out correctly. He has no plans to appeal the state's decision.

"They didn't wrong me," he said.

Former St. Petersburg City Council member Wengay Newton, who is running for the District 70 state House seat, said the paperwork was very detailed and had precise instructions, even listing what color ink should be used.

"I took my time, dotted my i's and crossed my t's," said Newton, who qualified for the race along with fellow Democrats Dan Fiorini, a St. Petersburg businessman, and St. Petersburg lawyer Christopher John "CJ" Czaia.

The winner of the Aug. 30 primary will take on Sarasota Republican Cori Fournier. In November's general election, the winners will face each other to see who will replace term-limited Democrat Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg.

Sykes said he'll look for ways to serve Midtown, Childs Park and the city's other southern neighborhoods.

And he's learned a valuable lesson.

"Next time," he said, "be on time."

Contact Charlie Frago at cfrago@tampabay.com or (727) 893-98459. Follow@CharlieFrago.