Pinellas County saw over 50% voter turnout for midterm elections Tuesday, but few were in the Democrats' favor.
The District 4 seat for Pinellas County Commission went to Republican Susan Latvala, who won 56% of the vote against Democrat Bob Hackworth. Hackworth, the former mayor of Dunedin, ran and lost against Congressman Bill Young in 2006.
Republican Congressman Young won his 21st term serving as U.S. House for District 5 with 65.91% of the vote. Democratic opponent State Senator Charlie Justice and his supporters gathered at St. Pete Brasserie's 539 Lounge on Central Avenue. Justice received 33.68% of the vote, but was not discouraged by the night's results.
"I've been very proud to have the kind of campaign that we've had where we talked about the importance of public service," Justice said. "We talked about what it meant to serve your community and it's not something you are entitled to and it's not something you earn one time, it's something that you have to earn every single time."
Justice spoke with Creative Loafing before results came in about what would be expected from the newly elected officials after the results were all in.
"It's very easy to say that things aren't great yet," Justice said. "But beginning tomorrow they are going to have the responsibility of governing. If they demand results in six months, then we are going to demand results in six months."
Young had said he planned to retire before midterm elections, but was asked to run for one more term. But he is expected to retire in two years. Hinting with little subtlety, Justice told his supporters to "keep your t-shirts."
Republican Jeff Brandes won District 52's State House Representative with 51% of the vote against Democratic incumbent Bill Heller. At the time this story was filed, Heller's campaign was still awaiting the final tally of absentee ballots and no concession speech had been made. Heller held his election night event at the St. Pete Brasserie at 539 Central Ave., next door to Charlie Justice's campaign event.
This article appears in Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2010.