TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

5 In Central Florida Keep Seats In Congress

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2008

Updated: 11/05/2008 01:44 am

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis coasted to victory and a second term Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Bill Mitchell, a 61-year-old employment lawyer from Carrollwood.

The incumbent ran on his record and familiarity with the district and constituents and had the benefit of name recognition and a $1.3 million war chest.

Bilirakis, who received nearly two-thirds of the vote in the 9th District that includes eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County and coastal Pasco County, said he was "gratified and very grateful."

"I'm just grateful to the voters. I've worked really hard the last two years and I guess they feel like I'm effective," Bilirakis said. "I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow morning; seriously."

The victory of Bilirakis and three other Central Florida Republican incumbents bucked a national trend.

"We're not doing very good nationally," Bilirakis said of Republican members of Congress seeking re-election. I understand we're going to lose some seats, but I don't yet know how many."

Mitchell, who has a master's degree in economics, called Bilirakis ineffective and unresponsive to the district's needs. Mitchell, who raised $147,000 during his campaign, said though voters are deeply concerned about the economy, the incumbent took no leadership role during the recent financial crisis.

Mitchell said he was unprepared to immediately attribute his loss to specific factors.

U.S. House 11th District

Democrat Kathy Castor easily won a second two-year term over Republican rival Eddie Adams Jr., receiving nearly three-quarters of the vote.

During the campaign for the district that includes most of Tampa and its suburbs, the two sparred over the war in Iraq and the economy. Castor, 42, favored tax cuts to those earning less than $250,000 a year, but Adams pushed for across-the-board tax cuts.

U.S. House 10th District

Pinellas County Republican C.W. Bill Young survived his stiffest challenge ever in winning a 20th two-year term.

Young, 77, who has gained powerful committee posts in his 38 years in Congress, defeated Democrat Bob Hackworth in the Pinellas County district.

Hackworth, 53, a popular mayor of Dunedin, ran a grassroots campaign hoping to capitalize on dissatisfaction with President Bush, the economy and the war in Iraq.

U.S. House 12th District

Eight-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, 34, defeated political newcomer Douglas Tudor for the seat that serves most of Polk County and parts of Hillsborough and Osceola counties. Putnam received nearly two-thirds of the vote.

U.S. House, 5th District

Three-term Republican Ginny Brown-Waite survived John Russell's third attempt to unseat her, gathering nearly two-thirds of the vote.

Democrat Russell, a 52-year-old acute care nurse practitioner from Dade City, characterized the incumbent as "a go-along-to-get-along career politician" who has done little for voters in her six years in Congress.

Brown-Waite, 65, touted her work to expand the GI Bill to give new education benefits to all post-Sept. 11 veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members, and cited efforts to expand existing VA clinics and ensure funding for future ones.

District 5 includes all of Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties and portions of Lake, Levy, Pasco, Polk and Marion counties.

Reporters Steve Girardi, Rich Shopes, Tony Marrero and Laura Frazier contributed to this report. Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT