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PASTOR'S SNUB BY DEMOCRATS NOT FORGOTTEN

The African-American leaderis likely to endorse Rick Scott.
 
Published Oct. 6, 2014|Updated Oct. 6, 2014

One of Tampa Bay's most prominent African-American ministers, the Rev. Manuel Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, is poised to endorse Republican Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign.

"I'm heavily leaning toward it," Sykes told the Tampa Bay Times Sunday night, hours after the governor spoke at his church. "I've got the rest of the night to pray about it."

Sykes, an active Democrat who had seriously considered running for Congress earlier this year until he was shunned by party leaders, also confirmed that he is likely to change his registration to Republican.

Elected Republican leaders from Pinellas have scheduled a news conference at 2 p.m. Monday at the C.A. Cafe in the historic Seaboard Train Station on 22nd Street S for "an important political announcement."

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist is counting on strong African-American support to beat Scott. Losing such an influential black leader in his own back yard to the Republican governor would, at the very least, be a big symbolic blow.

Sykes said he spoke to Scott by phone Wednesday and again Sunday in person.

"I have a pretty good comfort level with him now," Sykes said of the governor, who has enjoyed little African-American support in most public polls.

He has disagreed with Scott on plenty of issues, from restoration of civil rights for ex-felons to the Affordable Care Act, but Sykes said Scott seemed sincere in explaining how everything he does is aimed at creating jobs and opportunity for all Floridians.

In his five-minute talk to the Bethel Community congregation, Scott spoke about his childhood growing up in public housing, the son of a single mother who was a devout Christian.

"I never forgot my roots or that Jesus Christ is my savior," Scott said. "What I try to do today is to help people get jobs." Then he gave out a phone number in Tallahassee for anyone who's looking for a job.

Said Sykes: "I do see him differently than just wanting to give to the rich at the expense of the poor."

Crist also recently visited the church.

It has been a rocky political year for Sykes. Until earlier this year, he had been membership chairman of the Pinellas Democratic Executive Committee, responsible for recruiting new members to the party.

After Democrat Alex Sink lost a special congressional election against Republican David Jolly, Sykes stepped forward to challenge Jolly's Nov. 4 re-election bid when no other prominent Democrats appeared interested. But local, state, and national party leaders discouraged and snubbed him, questioning whether an African-American candidate with some rocky personal and financial problems in his past could be competitive.

Pinellas Democratic Chairman Mark Hanisee left a blunt message on Sykes' voicemail in April: "You better hold off, or, like I told you Sunday night, you are going to be persona non grata. Take that to the bank. That's telling you the gospel truth."

Sykes did withdraw, and Democratic leaders united behind rookie candidate Ed Jany, from Hillsborough County, to run for the Pinellas seat. Jany dropped out after the Times raised questions about his resume.

Whatever loyalty Sykes had to the Democratic Party disappeared at that point.

"I don't owe them anything," he said, suggesting party leaders had no interest in anything but him delivering black votes.

Sykes also had been president of the St. Petersburg NAACP branch, but last month the state NAACP ordered Sykes' branch to cease operations. The state organization cited irregularities in the branch's fiscal practices and programming, though Sykes said he was stunned by the sudden, drastic move.

He remains as committed as ever to helping the community.

"I try to work with the resources that God provides," Sykes said. "When they cut off the NAACP and the Democratic Party, I have to look elsewhere."

Craig Pittman contributed to this report. Contact Adam C. Smith at asmith@tampabay.com.