TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Aides Surprised To Be On Ballot

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELLEN GEDALIUS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

TAMPA - Tuesday's primary election ballot contained the names of several city council aides who found themselves running for a position they know little about.

The aides said they wound up on the ballot after Councilwoman Gwen Miller asked them to sign a form that could help her husband, Les. By signing, however, they were putting their names on the ballot to run for precinct committee positions in the local Democratic Party.

"I got caught up in this mess," said city council receptionist Catherine Jones. "I signed it without reading it. Stupid me."
Councilman Charlie Miranda's aide, Mary Bryan, signed the form, too. She read it, but didn't realize that by signing it, her name would appear on the ballot.

"I voted for my opponent," Bryan said Tuesday. "I would prefer not to have the job, but if I get the job I can do the job, because I am a hard worker."
Precinct committeemen and committeewomen serve as recruiters and organizers for their political party. They also elect local and state party leaders.

Miller said she asked the aides to sign the forms a few months ago and mentioned her husband was considering running for county Democratic Party chairman.

"I took it for granted they knew what it was," she said. "They didn't ask me, 'What is a committeewoman?'"

Les Miller, a former state senator, has not had to run in the past for precinct committeeman because as an elected official he automatically had a spot. This year, he ran unopposed, securing himself a spot.

Serving as a precinct committeeman positions Les Miller to run for local or state Democratic chairman. Gwen Miller said her husband has been approached about running for the local position, but hasn't decided whether to run.

Miranda said he, too, signed the form. He said Miller asked him to sign it to help her husband. Miranda said he read it and understood what it meant.

Ben Wilcox, executive director of elections watch dog group Common Cause Florida, said Miller might have crossed a line by asking city employees to seek a political party position.

"If there was some kind of perception of quid pro quo, there could be some kind of problem," he said.

Miller said she'll never again ask employees at city hall to sign up for committee jobs.

"I don't want anybody harassing me about it again," she said.

Janee Murphy, secretary of the Florida Democratic Party, said Gwen Miller has helped recruit precinct committee representatives in years past, particularly from East Tampa. She also has helped count votes and has attended party meetings.

"This is nothing new for her," Murphy said.

The forms were notarized by Dianne Hart, though council aides said they didn't sign the forms in the presence of a notary public. Hart could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Reporter Rich Shopes contributed to this report. Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at egedalius@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7679.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT