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D.C. Democrats' List Indicates Candidate Pick For 9th District

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By BILLY HOUSE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

WASHINGTON - Have Speaker Nancy Pelosi's strategists in Washington picked John Dicks as the candidate they want to face off against freshman GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis this fall?

They insist not, claiming ongoing neutrality regarding the former Plant City mayor and his 9th Congressional District Democratic primary rivals, Bill Mitchell of Carrollwood and Anita de Palma of Clearwater.

Yet, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which oversees Pelosi's nationwide effort to put more House seats in the Democratic column, is acting otherwise.

This week, the DCCC announced what it called "20 emerging races in the country."

The announcement explained: "In each of these races, Democratic candidates have generated excitement in their districts for their campaigns of change."

Dicks is listed among those 20 exciting Democratic hopefuls.

Neither of Dicks' two primary foes, Mitchell and de Palma, are mentioned.

Florida's 9th District spans parts of eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County, including all of Tarpon Springs and part of Clearwater, and a string of towns on the coast of Pasco County, including New Port Richey.

The DCCC's action immediately was seized upon by Dicks' campaign. "Although the primary for Florida's 9th District includes 3 contenders, Dicks was the only candidate featured in today's announcement," it boasts in a written statement.

The Mitchell camp reacted with surprise but says the employment lawyer and Navy veteran will not be deterred.

"This is not a done deal," said Mitchell's campaign manager, Anne Drake.

Mitchell had filed papers to run for the congressional seat in 2006, but withdrew in deference Phyllis Busansky, who was defeated by Bilirakis.

This time around, Drake said Mitchell has been campaigning aggressively throughout the district and getting positive response; he will hold a fundraising reception Thursday in Tampa.

Drake said support among local voters is what counts in the primary Aug. 26.

"We don't think any poll numbers show his Dicks' name recognition is any better," she said.

De Palma, a former Florida director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, could not be reached.

The DCCC usually remains neutral in primaries between Democrats running for Congress.

It hasn't changed that policy with regard to Dicks, Mitchell and de Palma, said Kyra Jennings, the Southern regional press secretary for the committee.

"We have not endorsed him," she said of Dicks.

At the same time, Jennings said the DCCC views Dicks as a "strong candidate" to run against Bilirakis, and that the committee thought he deserved mentioning in the announcement this week.

Bilirakis, of Palm Harbor, had no comment on the DCCC's announcement, said a spokesman.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@tampatrib.com or (202) 662-7673.

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