Darden Rice Now Finds Herself In a Bit of a Political Pickle

Bad judgment calls have plagued Darden Rice in the past. In the 2005 race for City Council District 6, Rice was criticized for a decision to buy an opponent's domain name. Some thought it was clever; others thought it was bad judgment.

Opponent beats Williams in race for domain name, Tampa Bay Times

If City Council member Earnest Williams wants to launch a campaign Web site, he's going to have to start hunting for an available address. The most logical choice - www.earnestwilliams.com  isn't available. Why? Because the domain name has already been taken by his opponent for the District 6 seat, Darden Rice. According to public records, the Web address is registered to Rice and her Sierra Club e-mail address. She claimed the name in July 2005 and owns it for a year.

Campaign hits a low pointRe: Opponent beats Williams in race for domain name, Oct. 19,2005 Tampa Bay Times Letters to the editor.

I just finished reading the article about Earnest Williams and his domain name in the Neighborhood Times. While I do not feel any laws have been broken, I surely feel this says a lot about Darden Rice's "win at all costs" campaign. I was truly an undecided voter until I read about Rice's campaign robbing me of the right to find information on my own. Tactics such as these are very sneaky and say a lot about the candidate! I would think that a candidate running for a public office would want to do so honorably.

Whether you are for Rice or Williams, we all deserve the right to logically get the information we need about each candidate and make our democratically given choices! I resent anyone who tries to prevent me from finding that information. It's sad to see a campaign sink to such lows.
-- Tim Burns, St. Petersburg

An unusually feisty meeting at Tiger Bay focuses on ethics instead of Race. Tampa Bay Times By Carrie Johnson, Published October 27, 2005.

Rice was also scolded during the question and answer period by club member Robert Eschenfelder for buying the domain name www.earnestwilliams.com

Rice, smiling sheepishly, said it was a "lighthearted jab" against her opponent but also a reminder. "I wanted him to know that every step of the way, I am one step ahead of him," Rice said.

She lost the race.

In  a 2008 bid for a County Commission District 3 seat, Rice took what many thought was a cheap shot at Rene' Flowers over a misspelling on a campaign sign.

Rice blasts Flowers over missing 'm'

Later after election when Rice learned her opponent Flowers had been  sued by a credit card company for nonpayment, Rice said ""I think that would have had traction," Rice said."It would have said something about her judgment; it may have even said something about her character."

I'm not real sure who's character it would have said the most about.

Flowers, former St. Pete City Council Member and long time well respected public servant, went on to win the race by a narrow margin.

Now we have the Darden Rice "Where Do You Really Live" question.

Mark Puente's Post St.Petersburg City Council candidates don't live where they claim has Rice scrambling to explain what appear to be almost desperate moves and excuses to qualify for the District 4 City Council seat. It appears that sound judgment may have once again gone out the window.

Puente says there is more to come, but regardless, anyone who is this desperate to get on the ballot,  let alone get elected is probably not the right person to serve District 4 at this time.

If it turns out Darden does not legally qualify for the ballot, I would like my campaign contribution back.

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.

Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Darden Rice Campaign