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Health & Fitness

Candidates Enter Tiger Den To Make Case for Districts 4 & 8 Campaigns

Candidates for St. Petersburg City Council Districts 4 and 8 entered the Tiger’s Den Wednesday afternoon  to make their cases for the Aug. 27 primary election.

The luncheon panel-style meeting at the St. Pete Yacht Club included all District 4 candidates: community activist Darden Rice, neurosurgeon Dr. David McKalip and former Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association president Carolyn Fries and Richard Eldridge.

Amy Foster, Steve Galvin, Robert Davis and Alex Duensing also represented the District 8 race.

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A few on the podium began by joking about the Suncoast Tiger Bay slogan “Carving up a politician for lunch.” Many of the candidates had been either current or past members of Tiger Bay.

“I’m glad I’m not a politician,” Davis said. For him, job creation and neighborhood safety were his two main priorities if elected.

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“I’m too nice to be a politician,” Davis added.

“I’ve been carved up before,” said McKalip. “And have done some carving.” His main theme of the afternoon echoed the Tea Party mantra of how capitalism lifted more people out of poverty than any government program.

“I’m not so sure I like this side of the podium,” Fries quipped to the nearly 75 people in the audience. Fries explained that she was busy helping out in the community, when she was “not in the process of moving in the neighborhood.” It was a quick a jab about residency issues her opponents faced earlier in the campaign. Due to redistricting, both Rice and McKalip needed to relocate to District 4 to run for office.

The Tiger Den crowd covered many of the city's hot-button issues, including education, neighborhood safety, raises for city workers and (of course) the future of the St. Pete Pier.

Unsurprisingly, The Lens had almost unanimous condemnation.  

When asked the “simple question”whether the Lens should “stay or go,” all the candidates — with the exception of Amy Foster — recommended cancelling the agreement with designer Michael Maltzan.

Steve Galvin, who signed “both petitions” to stop The Lens, believes “the most fiscally responsible position is to use the pier we have.” Maintaining that engineering reports say caissons were “sufficient,” he suggested developing the waterfront property to include retail and solar power, so it could be “self-sufficient.”

Duensing said that his opinion was to see innovative development of the downtown waterfront, especially around the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel, perhaps with something incorporating “Jules Verne technology.”  

Sparks flew briefly when McKalip, who said he “would not talk in platitudes,” backtracked on a controversial email he forwarded to friends four years ago, which portrayed President Obama as a witch doctor.  McKalip continued into a rant about free speech when asked if he could magically go back in time and save himself from sending the anti-Obamacare photo.

“Of course I wouldn’t send that email,” McKalip said. “I apologized for it.”

“I did not create it,” he added, “but I forwarded it.”

Then the Tea Party activist blasted back, saying he is not going to tolerate “political attacks” from many people who advocate “big government.”

“That’s what happens when you attack free speech.”

In closing arguments, the candidates gave some intriguing answers to highlight their wide range of community service.

Rice, a former president of the League of Women Voters, mentioned her long list of community activism, saying she has “strongest record of public service” with the “leadership, management and demeanor” to represent District 4 fully.

For Foster, “building safer neighborhoods” in District 8 would be her top priority; she also cited her endorsements from both the AFL/CIO and the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce.

Eldridge talked of his time in the Marine Corps, as well as (once again) the “gallons” of blood he donated.

Alexander Duensing ended his appearance with a passionate case for why District 6 voters should want him. Duensing thanked the audience for the opportunity to “express my love of service.”

“If we are connected with our community,” he added, “we can accomplish so much more, to make St. Pete even more amazing.” 

Co-written with Phil Ammann.

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