Pinellas Democratic Establishment Endorses Sink

Congressional candidate Alex Sink has received endorsements from the Pinellas County Democratic establishment. Here is the list if endorsements sent out by the Sink campaign.

Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice; Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long; Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch; Pinellas School Board Member Linda Lerner; Pinellas School Board Member Rene Flowers; State Representative Dwight Dudley; State Representative Darryl Rouson; State Representative Carl Zimmermann; St. Petersburg City Council member Darden Rice; St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse; St. Petersburg City Council member Steve Kornell; Seminole Councilor Patricia Plantamura; Largo Mayor Pat Gerard; Former Largo Mayor Robert Jackson; Largo Commissioner Mike Smith; Belleair Bluffs Commissioner Joseph Barkley;

Darden Rice Wins!

Congratz to progressive champ Darden Rice, St. Pete City Council winner!' #pfla pic.twitter.com/KYTEcOTchX

— Progress Florida (@ProgressFlorida) November 6, 2013

Progress Florida took this picture of Darden Rice giving her victory speech at the Red Mesa Cantina Mexican Restaurant. Darden Rice was officially been elected to the St. Petersburg City Council. Congratulations to Rice.

Darden Rice Campaign Watch Party

People of St. Petersburg can watch the election results when Darden Rice officially becomes a member of the St. Petersburg City Council.

Where: Red Mesa Cantina Mexican Restaurant, Arts & Entertainment

When: Today, 6:45 PM

Join Darden Rice and her campaign Tuesday, November 5th at 645pm sharp to watch the Election Day results come in for the St. Pete City elections. The campaign will provide food. Cash bar. Join us to be a part of a historic evening!

Artists for Darden Rice City Council 4 Fundraiser Friends of Guests

Fundraiser for progressive candidate Darden Rice for District 4 of the St. Petersburg City Council.

When: Oct. 3

6:00pm until 8:00pm

Where: 550 24th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Rice is pushing for the city of St. Petersburg to give more grants to the arts.

The city should increase its grants to local arts non-profits from $175,000 a year to at least $300,000, said Rice, adding that she hopes to eventually bring it up to $400,000 or higher as the economy improves. By comparison, Sarasota distributes $1 million in grants to its arts organizations, she said.

You can also donate to Rice online.

Darden Rice Primary Watch

St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice is hosting a primary watch for her supporters. Have fun with other Democrats and find out if Rice can beat tea party candidate David McKalip and his meat cards.

Come join Darden and the campaign team as we watch the results of the primary elections for St. Pete and District 4. Food will be provided by the campaign. Cash bar.

When: Today at 6:30 PM

Where: Harvey's 4th Street Grill

3121 4th St N Saint Petersburg, Florida 33704-2124

Hillsborough Meet and Greet for Darden Rice

St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice is coming to the Hillsborough side of the bay for the meet and greet.

Come meet and hear Darden Rice speak about the importance of working together as a region and her plan, St. Pete Strong for St. Petersburg. Food and refreshments will be provided. The event is going to be a great networking opportunity and a chance for anyone to support Darden!

Please RSVP to Mark: mark@puskarich.us

4201 Bayshore BLVD. Fri 7/26 630pm-830pm

Quote form Mark & jt

"Our Bay Area has further opportunity to advance the cause and reputation of our region as we are presented with another progressive candidate, Darden Rice.We hope you will join us on July 26th at our place to support her candidacy for St. Pete City Council."

Best Campaign Mailer Photo Ever

Peter Schorsch made his own comments about St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice's campaign mailer. I will keep my comments more pro-feminist and PC. I think that is the best set of photos of a candidate in ages. Here is the rest of the flyer.

Rice's tea party opponent David McKalip had to respond to Schorsch posting the flyer on his blog.

My cards have MEAT. I will cut taxes, she will raise them. I signed the petition to stop the lens, she played politics and hid.

REAL Solutions from a candidate you can TRUST – -that is what my cards say.

"My cards have meat"? That is McKalip's attack line to use against Rice? That is hysterical. McKalip appears in a hospital coat at tea party rallies. McKalip should look at that flyer and realize voters are more likely to vote for the candidate that looks like a movie star. Although, I'm sure the Rice campaign trembles at McKalip handing out his meat cards to voters.

Update: Schorsch has his polling numbers. Short answer: Rice is handing McKalip his ass.

The truth is Rice is running away with the race, at least in the primary. According to a survey conducted by St. Pete Polls and commissioned by this blog, Rice has a wide lead over her next closest rival, Dr. McKalip. Among likely voters, Rice receives 32% support, McKalip is at 17%, Carolyn Fries is at 11% and Richard Eldridge is at 4%. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they were undecided.

Darden Rice Beating David McKalip in Fundraising

More evidence that Democrat Darden Rice is going to beat tea partier David McKalip in the St. Petersburg City Council District 4 race. Rice is nearly doubling McKalip in fundraising.

Darden Rice, 43, a community organizer, has raised just over $31,000 between April and the end of June, putting her total at $56,225. She's spent a lot of it – about $20,000 since March.

David McKalip, 47, a neurosurgeon, posted a fundraising haul today of $21,750, bringing his total to $30,543. Most of that is already gone. Since March, McKalip has spent $26,297.

Rice is one of the few Democratic candidates loved by the progressive base and the establishment. McKalip is best known for sending out a racist email portraying President Obama as a witch doctor. McKalip is also known for reciting bizarre conspiracy theories at tea party meetings. Occasional PR contributor Alex Pickett said this about McKalip.

Good post. For those of us who attend St. Pete City Council meetings, this wingnut McKalip is the bane of our existence. Almost as annoying as that environmental wacko guy. His name escapes me (thank god).

The District 4 race is a rising Democratic star vs a doctor that repulses people. Darden Rice couldn't have picked a better Republican opponent.

Side note: I'm disappointed that McKalip isn't campaigning in his doctor's coat. McKalip was using that shtick when Congress was writing the Affordable Care Act.

Kathy Castor Endorses Darden Rice

St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice announced the Rep. Kathy Castor has endorsed her candidacy.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: "I strongly endorse Darden Rice for the St. Petersburg City Council. Darden Rice is an outspoken advocate for jobs, small businesses and a healthy and clean environment. We have worked together to protect and restore the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay and ensure that our local businesses succeed and grow. Darden and I have also collaborated on equal rights as she values the right for each citizen to vote and will work to ensure our elections are fair and successful."

Darden Rice Receives Police Benevolent Association Endorsement

Via Saint Petersblog: the Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Darden Rice for St. Petersburg City Council district 4 seat.

“This is an important endorsement,” acknowledged Rice. “Ensuring the public’s safety and working collaboratively with our city’s police force is one of the council’s top responsibilities and we have to get it right.”

Rice's Republican opponent Dr. David McKalip is politically radioactive. McKalip's infamous Obama witch doctor email made national news. Sometime Pushing Rope contributor Alex Pickett wrote this about McKalip.

Good post. For those of us who attend St. Pete City Council meetings, this wingnut McKalip is the bane of our existence. Almost as annoying as that environmental wacko guy. His name escapes me (thank god).

McKalip isn't a people person. Rice has been networking in the community for years. That is why she has the Police Benevolent Association endorsement.

Darden Rice Petition Drive

Longtime progressive activist Darden Rice is running for St. Petersburg City Council. Rice is holding a petition drive on April 13. She needs 500 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Walk to get petitions for Darden Rice!

When: Saturday, April 13, 2013

Time: 9:00 AM

Where: Pinera Bread

1908 4th Street North, Saint Petersburg

The campaign will provide a small breakfast and bottled water for walkers.

4 Health Care Stories to Watch for in 2012

This is a guest post by Darden Rice, Communications Director of Know Your Care/Protect Your Care. KYC and PYC are sister 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations. Pushing Rope is not affiliated with KYC or PYC. This blog does want to hear progressives voices talk about policy.

Below is Rice's article. Hit the + button of the Scribd document to make the text bigger.

4 Health Care Stories (3) 1

Special Session Proves Republicans Refuse to Govern

Darden Rice correctly points out that until recently offshore drilling was a third rail subject in Florida.

Prudence and caution has always been the responsible approach, not putting our coasts at risk. Until recently, Florida had wisely benefited from strong bipartisan legislative and administrative support for coastal protection from drilling for 25 years. The recent partisan sniping is not the historical norm for such an important issue that could put a stake in the heart of our tourism industry. We need a constitutional amendment as a safe backup system for coastal protection to remove this issue from the shaky vicissitudes of partisan politics.

What has change is the Republican Party's state and national trend to increasing ignore voters. Republicans used to do some things right. Richard Nixon cfreated the EPA and Teddy Roosevelt was a staunch conservationist. The current Republican Party is ruled by their lobbyists.

The Tea Party movement was astroturfed. The Tea Party draws voters who are already conservative Republicans. The GOP hears no voice accept corporate fundraising money. Republicans saw George W. Bush ignore the concern of voters and get re-elected. In Florida, the Democrats cannot raise enough money to compete with Republicans.

Cannon, one of the biggest players in fighting the redistricting amendments, faces perhaps the most organized Democratic challenger in labor-backed Amy Mercado, but he had raised a whopping $661,000 through last March compared to her $22,700.

Dorworth also has a Democratic challenger in educator and former Sentinel news assistant Steve Barnes, who had raised $15,000 through March. But Dorworth had amassed $107,000, and used a separate political committee called Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy to raise another $134,000.

The Florida Democratic Party deserves much blame for a history of disorganization. The Republican dominance has produced a legislature to dysfunctional to address a constitutional ban against offshore drilling or the need for tax breaks for businesses hurt by the Deep Horizon disaster.

Pinellas County Commission Debate

The NAACP is hosting a dedate between Pinellas County comission candidates Renee Flowers and Darden Rice.

Date: Monday, August 4, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: NAACP - St. Pete office
Street: 1501 16th Street S
City/Town: Saint Petersburg, FL

Local Races

State Rep. Michael Scionti has endorsed Hillsborough County Commision candidate Kevin Beckner.

“The residents of Hillsborough County have a real opportunity for change and true leadership with Kevin Beckner. I am proud to support his candidacy and look forward to seeing him take a leadership role on the county commission,” stated Representative Scionti in his endorsement of candidate Kevin Beckner.

Beckner also received the endorsement of the Hillsborough County Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender and Allies Democratic Caucus.

In other news: Darden Rice now has her campaign yard signs. If you live in Pinellas County, put one in your yard.

Darden Rice News

Pinellas County Commission candidate Darden Rice received an endorsement from Florida House Rep. Janet Long.

"Darden Rice is an energetic young leader who will set an entirely new standard on how we achieve good policies on thoughtful growth management and the environment," Long said in a statement. "She presents the right set of skills and the right attitude to work hard; I know she will make a difference in Pinellas County."

The Pinellas Stonewall Democrats recommend Rice to their membership. The endorsement isn't surprising Stonewall Democrats are a LGBT Democratic Praty group and Rice has been candid about her sexuality. It is impressive how quickly Rice has lined up so many endorsements. Her campaign is amazingly well-managed for a local race.

WMNF interviewed Rice and primary opponent Renee Flowers. Rice talked to Mitch Perry about the need for fresh leadership after the Jim Smith scandal rocked the commission. Rice also expressed her displeasure over the Toyland land deal.

Darden Rice Events

CNCN will host a candidate forum. Pinellas County Commission candidate Darden Rice will be one of the paticipants.

Time and Place Date: Monday, July 21, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Crescent Oaks Country Club
Street: 3300 Crescent Oaks Blvd
City/Town: Tarpon Springs, FL

Voters will also have a chance to meet Rice at the DWCUP Meeting.

Time and Place Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: St. Larry's
Street: 34980 US Hwy 19 N
City/Town: Palm Harbor, FL

Go to the Darden Rice Facebook page for the latest news.

Larry Biddle Member of Darden Rice's Team

The Alex Sink campaign used the internet better than any Florida local or state campaign. The reason for that is Larry Biddle. Pinellas County Commission candidate Darden Rice has hired Biddle to increase her internet presence.

This is a sign that Rice is serious. I scoffed at serial candidate Joe Redner for hiring Kelly Benjamin. Canidates are not going to get elected by hiring a former (and arrested) pirate radio operator. Rice received the endorsements of Rick Kriseman and Darryl Rouson because she is running a credible campaign.

Rice will face Republican Nancy Bostock in the general election. Rice's currently is the Southeast project manager of the Sierra Club.

Related links:

Darden Rice on the Issues
Darden Rice Interview

Update: Wayne Garcia did a 2007 profile on Larry Biddle.