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Republicans Sweep Local Races In Pinellas

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By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2008

CLEARWATER - Republican candidates swept local races in Pinellas County, winning all three contested county commission seats for starters.

Commission veteran Karen Seel, nine years on the board, won a three-way race in District 5 against Democrat Norm Roche and independent Jake Mullens.

In District 1, Republican Neil Brickfield, a former Safety Harbor city commissioner, defeated Democrat Paul Matton.

In another close race in District 3, Republican Nancy Bostock, longtime school board member, defeated Democrat Rene Flowers, a St. Petersburg City Council member.

The commission has a total of seven members.

The non-partisan, seven-member school board also had three seats up for election.

In District 4, Robin Wikle, a former teacher and longtime school activist, defeated Ken Peluso, a Palm Harbor Fire District commissioner and chairman of the Early Learning Coalition.

Incumbent Janet Clark survived a challenge from Democrat Jennifer Crockett to win a second four-year term in District 1.

In the at-large District 2 race, lawyer Nina Hayden of the Pinellas Public Defender's Office defeated teacher Sean Michael O'Flannery.

In the Pinellas County sheriff's race, Republican incumbent Jim Coats easily fended off a challenge by Democrat Randall Jones, an 18-year deputy.

In the supervisor of elections race, incumbent Republican Deborah Clark withstood criticism over her decision to limit early voting sites and defeated Democratic challenger Jack Killingsworth.

For property appraiser, Republican Pam Dubov defeated Democrat Ben Friedlander. Dubov was longtime deputy to outgoing Property Appraiser Jim Smith, criticized over the county's purchase of land he owned for above-market value.

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