Tentatively revised Congressional district maps, the latest development in Florida's little redistricting romp, have set off a chain reaction among Florida politicos who are either, for reasons we can't fathom, thinking about running for Congress or would like to keep their butts planted in the once-esteemed chamber.
Northern Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, whose district resembles your wall if you were to throw an open bottle of particularly runny nail polish at it, isn't happy since no longer will her district be GOP lawmakers' dumping ground for Democratic-leaning voters in that part of the state.
For Pinellas County's 13th Congressional District, which has recently been home to some dramatic twists and turns, the new maps that came out Thursday would, if implemented as-is, make it somewhat certain that the Pinellas district will lean Democratic, which it currently doesn't. After all, the court said Tampa Bay's Congressional districts aren't supposed to cross the bay anymore, as U.S. Rep Kathy Castor's did.
That means that the swath of predominantly African-American south St. Pete residents who largely lean Democrat are not going to be lumped into Castor's district anymore, and the district's northern boundary will come down some, excluding some largely Republican areas north of Clearwater.
So, yay, fairness, say local Democrats.
"I'm very excited and happy that they're much better maps in terms of, whoever gets to serve and represent Pinellas County is going to be representing most of Pinellas County and I think that's a benefit to the people of Pinellas County," said State Rep. Dwight Dudley, who lives in St. Petersburg and had considered running for the seat if the map was drawn to favor Democrats.
Like numerous other Democrats, Dudley had been waiting to see what the district boundaries would look like before jumping into the race, but said if former governor Charlie Crist indeed runs (he said he would if the new lines include his home, and has since recently purchased two homes in the district), he'd stay out.
"It sounds as if Charlie Crist is very sincere about running, and I think with his commitment in buying two homes recently that that sort of punctuates what he's going to do, and I would not consider trying to run in a race where Charlie Crist is," Dudley said.
Already running as a Democrat is Eric Lynn, a former Pentagon official originally from St. Petersburg, who has said he intends to stay in the race no matter what. A recent poll showed Crist demolishing any primary contender he would face.
So, you could say that everything's coming up Charlie.
Almost.
There is the possibility that former St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker, who was popular citywide despite being a Republican, may decide to run for the seat. The same voter survey that showed Crist ruling the primary also showed Baker only about four points behind Crist, with more than 11 percent of voters undecided.
Dudley said the possibility of Baker running shouldn't be a deterrent for someone like Crist.
"I think Charlie will do just fine," he said.
