Dear Rep. Gus Bilirakis:
Congratulations! From the looks of things, Democrats have once again conceded your home base of Palm Harbor and Pinellas County. During this congressional primary season, I have gotten more mailers (2) from you than from the three Democratic primary challengers (none). No signage was put up, no canvasing took place, no interest in GOTV efforts, no intention to help down ballot candidates in turning out voters. (Are you listening John Dicks? )
It happens annually - my district race turns into a farce where no one presents themselves (tactically or politically) as worthy congressmen. Oh, this includes you Gus, but you're the incumbent. It says volumes if others don't present themselves as a better choice than yourself - let alone their primary opponents.
Signed,
Disgruntled
(Update Note: The above posted snark was also posted at my personal blog, The Stonegauge and earned the attention of SOMEONE (not naming names but his first name rhymes with "Bus") in Congress. I have web tracking software that shows traffic from house.gov today. Funny stuff.)
The above "letter" is written in disgust after my voting experience today at my local precinct which is Suburban Pinellas county with a populous of eager-to-vote retirees and other suburbanites. As of noon EDT, there had been a total of 32 people who made their way into my precinct to vote in local primaries and civil elections. Yes, the focus is most certainly elsewhere right now for Democrats and Republicans alike, but this turnout at this location was beyond upsetting for me.
From the Democratic congressional contestants, it was a repeat performance of general elections past where, as my "letter" says, the area in which I live was conceded outright for the tactical (sic) decision to focus on the sprawling precincts of Hillsborough county.
With the FL-09 primary today, the front runner, John Dicks, has the DCCC's blessing... But that blessing seems to have earned complacency as I have yet to get a mailing from Dicks. Or a regular Email update from his campaign (which does get sent out but with absolutely no regularity). His primary opponents, Anita De Palma and Bill Mitchell, are also guilty in a lack of outreach to voters in my area.
I'm not writing this post to attack campaigns, however, and point blame. I'm writing this out of general disgust. It shows how much work that is yet to be done in the district.
My precinct may very well be safe Bilirakis in November, but that shouldn't mean no effort is put into place to challenge. After all, with a strong presidential candidate and other strong down ballot candidates for State Legislature and State Senate, an effort everywhere is a must.