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Democrat Vies To End Dynasty

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

TAMPA - Democrats lined up for a chance to unseat U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Now the freshman Republican faces Democratic primary winner Bill Mitchell, a 61-year-old employment lawyer with an office in downtown Tampa and a home in Carrollwood.

Wrestling away the District 9 seat that has been a Bilirakis dynasty since the district's creation in 1982 could be an uphill battle. The Palm Harbor Republican has two years of congressional experience and a family name associated with Bay area politics for 26 years.

His father, Tarpon Springs native Mike Bilirakis, held the seat from its creation until he retired in 2006.

Mitchell outdistanced John Dicks by 687 votes in the three-way Democratic primary.

"I feel I can connect with people, the regular folks that are in the district," said Mitchell, a Navy veteran active with local veteran organizations.

Mitchell calls Bilirakis ineffective and unresponsive to constituents. "He hasn't really done anything significant."

Voters deeply concerned about the economy, he said, ask: "What is the future for our kids going to be?"

Mitchell said he will focus on affordable health care and improving veteran benefits.

Bilirakis, who said he is "philosophically aligned with my constituents," backed 22 local projects totaling $64 million in the 2009 federal budget, according to Congress.org, a Web site by a firm providing lobbying advice.

He cites a laundry list of successes, a priority being aiding members of the military and veterans.

"I was first to file a bill to make sure our troops get a pay raise" of 3.9 percent during each of the past two years, Bilirakis said.

The 9th Congressional District includes eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County and coastal Pasco County.

Three Pasco men are on the ballot: Richard O. Emmons, Term Limits for the U.S. Congress Party; write-in candidate Andrew Pasayan; and John Kalimnios, no party affiliation.
GUS BILIRAKIS
AGE: 45

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Florida; law degree, Stetson University College of Law.

FAMILY: Married, four sons

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Lawyer, formerly in private practice; government instructor, St. Petersburg College.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Florida House,1998-2006; elected to District 9, 2006.

WEB SITE: www.gusbilirakis .com

BILL MITCHELL

AGE: 61

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in economics, University of Washington; master's degree in economics, University of California, Berkeley; law degree, University of California, Berkeley; master's degree, tax law, Georgetown University.

FAMILY: Married, three sons

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Naval officer, 1969-72; three years as a Federal Trade Commission lawyer; private practice, Washington, D.C., and Montana; lawyer with Tampa firm of Carlton Fields, six years; private practice for the past 16 years.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for 9th Congressional District in 2006; ran for Florida House District 47 as a Republican in 2002.

WEB SITE: www.billmitchellfor congress.com

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