U.S. Rep. Bill Young’s life will be celebrated at a public funeral Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks Beach.
Everyone but high-profile Democrats is welcome to attend.
Beverly Young, the Republican congressman's widow, has warned Democrats Jessica Ehrlich, Karen Seel, Charlie Justice and Charlie Crist not to attend the event, where House Speaker John Boehner will be among the GOP dignitaries to deliver eulogies.
Young, 82, was known for his understated style and bipartisan approach to politics. The same cannot be said for his widow, who has been sharing her emailed rebukes of Florida Democrats with the press.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Young's widow sent the following email to former Florida Gov. Crist:
“This e-mail is to officially advise you that your presence at my husband's memorial services will be unacceptable. I have watched over the years, as Bill had, your transparent attempts to manipulate the political arena. I don't want my husband's memorial service to be another opportunity for that and I will not tolerate anyone turning this into a platform for political gain.”
Ehrlich, Seel and Justice reportedly received similar rebukes in emails that uninvited them to the public memorial service.
According to Saintpetersblog, Young’s email to Ehrlich stated: “People like you are the exact people that makes this world a scary place to live in... You should be ashamed of the games you attempted to play so you could secure a job. “
Beverly Young also told Ehrlich that she would have her physically removed if she showed up. Ehrlich ran against Young in 2012.
More this morning
Crist is welcome at this party: Newly minted Democrat Charlie Crist is expected to make a special appearance this weekend in Orlando, when the Florida Democratic Party gathers for its 2013 state conference.
The conference is scheduled for Oct. 25-27 at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort, with the focus on 2014 elections and “defeating Rick Scott.”
There are high expectations for Crist to enter the governor’s race by the end of the year. Polls show that voters prefer Crist — a former Republican — over Scott.
A Crist win still may be a long shot in Florida, a GOP stronghold. A Democrat has not been elected Florida governor since Lawton Chiles narrowly won a second term in 1994.
Crist was a Republican when he served as governor of Florida. He made an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 2010, running as an independent against Marco Rubio. Crist joined the Democratic Party in December 2012.
Competition for AG Pam Bondi: A well-known Florida Democrat is challenging Pam Bondi for the Attorney General's Office.
George Sheldon announced Monday that he is resigning his federal post as Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services to run against Bondi.
His bid may signal a more strategic effort by the Democratic Party to unseat incumbent Republicans in Cabinet posts, including attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner.
Sheldon immediately went on the attack against his opponent, accusing her of working full time to “deny health care to children” and sick people “with pre-existing conditions.” He accused Bondi of using her office for partisan politics to oppose the Affordable Care Act.
Sheldon’s background includes directing DCF under former Gov. Charlie Crist.
