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March: Labor won't pick sides in Democratic battles for Hillsborough Clerk, Commission

 
Kevin Beckner, left, and incumbent Pat Frank, both running for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court, await the start of a debate recently at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center.
Kevin Beckner, left, and incumbent Pat Frank, both running for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court, await the start of a debate recently at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center.
Published May 6, 2016

Hillsborough County's biggest organized labor group, the AFL-CIO's West Central Florida Central Labor Council, is staying neutral in the county's two hottest Democratic primary races: Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Hillsborough County Commission's District 6 seat.

Incumbent Clerk Pat Frank faces County Commissioner Kevin Beckner in the clerk's primary race. Beckner is a two-term commissioner who will vacate his countywide seat in District 6 because of term limits.

Vying to replace him are four prominent Democrats running for the nomination: former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, politically active lawyer Pat Kemp, former commissioner and Tampa City Council member Tom Scott and lawyer and transportation advocate Brian Willis.

The union's decision is a blow to Frank, who's long had the support of organized labor and might have been expected to get this endorsement because she's an incumbent who has received it in the past.

"I have to admit that is a disappointment," she said. "I've had the support of labor in almost every election I've ever run in. I think there are a lot of new people on the screening committee.

"I think they didn't know my history. I can't fault them."

Frank said she has received support from some unions within the umbrella labor group including the Teamsters and Service Employees International Union. Lack of a Central Labor Council endorsement means those unions may now make their own endorsements.

Beckner campaign manager Nick Janovsky called the decision "a big loss for Pat Frank, and a direct result of Kevin's tireless efforts in the county, signaling the solid quality work he will do in the clerk's office."

Both races have local Democrats tied up in knots, with popular, well-known candidates competing against each other. That endorsement could have been influential in the primary.

Democrats are upset that Frank, a local Democratic icon, and Beckner, a rising Democratic star, are running against each other.

In the commission race, Hills­borough Democrats view it as a ripe opportunity for them to hold onto the seat. The presidential year promises good Democratic turnout, and the leading GOP contender, Jim Norman, is considered beatable.

The District 6 seat is one of only two Democrats hold on the seven-member board.

The labor council represents some 40 unions spread over 12 counties, claiming 56,000 active, retired and family members in Hillsborough. Among the largest are those representing teachers, school employees, city and county employees, plus the Teamsters and SEIU.

The screening process included candidate questionnaires and interviews open to union members over the last two months, ending with a vote by an executive board last week.

David Bernstein of the American Postal Workers Union local said in both races, the screening committee members were unable to decide among candidates considered friends of organized labor.

"We decided to let the primary sort it out," he said. "We'll throw our support behind whoever comes out of the primary."

Clendenin: I'm running for School Board

Alan Clendenin, a high-level Democratic Party official and retired air traffic controller and manager from South Tampa, said that next week he will file for the open District 7 countywide seat on the Hillsborough County School Board.

Clendenin, 57, is vice chairman of the state Democratic Party and one of the state's delegates to the Democratic National Committee, as well as an active fundraiser for state and local Democratic candidates.

He was active in the National Air Traffic Controller's Union, including serving as national chairman, before going into management.

He joins a crowded race to replace Carol Kurdell, the board's longest-serving member, who announced in March that she won't run for re-election.

Clendenin said when he retired in 2012, he intended to go into public service and the School Board is the right path for him.

"Education has always been one of my hot buttons my entire life," he said. "The fiscal issues and interpersonal dynamics are kind of in my wheelhouse with my background in the union and as a manager. I'll be able to listen to the board members, the teachers, the parents and all those who have an interest in the school system, including business leaders, and come to the right decision."

Born in Sanford, Clendenin spent most of his career in central Florida. He's divorced and reared two children, now grown, who he said graduated from Hillsborough public schools. Clendenin said he attended four years of college but accepted a job as an air traffic controller without completing his degree.

The other candidates who have filed to run for that seat are Joseph Caetano, Lynn Gray, Stanley Gray, Norene Miller, Matt Swanson and Randy Toler.

Tom Lee watch

State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, is still mum on whether he'll jump into a County Commission race, which would set off a wave of falling dominoes.

But that hasn't stopped political maneuvering for Senate District 20 in east Hillsborough.

GOP consultant Brock Mikosky has been talking to potential candidates for the District 59 House seat of Rep. Ross Spano, R-Dover, who could jump into Lee's district and leave the House seat open.

Mikosky said he's got no inside information — he's doing it just in case.

Rep. Dan Raulerson, R-Plant City, said he's leaning toward backing Randy Larson for the Senate seat if it comes open, instead of running himself.

Whom did the union endorse?

In another hard-fought Democratic primary in state Senate District 19, the Labor Council went for state Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, who faces Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and former Rep. Betty Reed of Tampa.

The primary likely will decide the race to replace Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

But they also stayed neutral in the House District 63 Democratic primary between Tampa City Council member Lisa Montelione and Mike Reedy — the winner faces Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa — and in the Democratic primary in Spano's district, Rena Frazier vs. Golnaz Sahebzamani.

Other Hillsborough endorsements: state Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; Tax Collector Doug Belden; Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez; Public Defender Julianne Holt; State Attorney Mark Ober; Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer; and judicial candidates Carl Hinson, Melissa Polo and Miriam Velez Valkenburg

Mark your calendar

The Tampa Tiger Bay Club will hold a forum for candidates for the District 6 County Commission seat on May 20 at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center, 1610 N Tampa St. Republicans Norman and Tim Schock have confirmed they're be there, along with all four Democratic candidates.

William March can be reached at wemarch@gmail.com.