Latest News & Announcements
Posted
on 08/29/2008
Today, August 7, 2008 Darden received the St. Pete Times recommendation! The Times has a strong and authoritative voice on Tampa Bay area issues and politics, and Darden is honored to receive their recommendation. Here's the editorial:
Times recommends
For Pinellas County Commission
In print: Thursday, August 7, 2008
Republicans and Democrats each have one countywide primary election for the Pinellas County Commission. The Aug. 26 primary winners each will face an opponent in the November general election. Both of these commission seats are open because the incumbents are not seeking re-election.
Darden Rice for Democrats
District 3 (countywide)
Democrats have two credible candidates from St. Petersburg in the countywide primary for District 3: former City Council member Rene Flowers and civic activist Darden Rice. The winner will face Republican Nancy Bostock, a Pinellas County School Board member, in the November general election and succeed Bob Stewart.
Rice, 38, would be a breath of fresh air on the commission. The Southeast project director of Oceana, an international ocean protection group, has a strong record of advocacy through her work with the Sierra Club and St. Petersburg's Council of Neighborhood Associations. Her grass-roots connections would be welcome on a commission that too often appears isolated from its constituents.
Flowers, 43, served two steady if unspectacular terms on the St. Petersburg City Council from 1999 to 2008. She joined a group of other council members to create a more business-like, collegial atmosphere after years of petty infighting. On the council and as chairman of the Florida League of Cities, Flowers was a forceful advocate for affordable housing. She also stresses her expertise with government budgets in an era of declining tax revenues and her ability to work cooperatively to meet common goals.
While both Democrats are solid candidates, Rice would bring new energy and particular experience and sensibilities to environmental and development issues that the commission has been lacking. She has worked to create strong protections for the Brooker Creek Preserve, and she also has a good grasp of other areas that should dispel any concerns that she is a one-issue candidate. Rice wants to make mass transit a higher priority and set higher goals for affordable housing. She supports pursuing consolidation of fire and medical services, and she is open to exploring how the county could use the resort tax or other sources to help pay for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. She is a quick learner who can work effectively outside her comfort zone and a more well-rounded candidate than when she unsuccessfully ran for the St. Petersburg City Council in 2005.
In the Democratic primary for Pinellas County Commission District 3, the Times recommends Darden Rice.
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Click here to see it on the St. Pete Times Editorial page, and please join the community over on Darden's Facebook page!
Posted
on 08/28/2008
Dear Friends,
This is a tough note to write because it will be the last one of this campaign. The Supervisor of Elections office has completed its review of the ballots, and today I officially conceded the race to my worthy opponent, Rene’ Flowers. Rene’ has shown a dedication to affordable housing, an issue that needs a true advocate countywide. I wish her the best, and I encourage all Democrats to support her in what will be a trying race in the general election. She will need your help and support.
Despite the disappointment and sadness I feel now, I am very proud of our campaign efforts and hold my chin up high that we ran an excellent campaign and brought important issues to light. I am very inspired by the strong supporters and volunteers who brought energy and spirit to our campaign.
I thank you all so much for your support. This was a true grassroots campaign and I thank each and every one of you who gave so much of your time, money, energy and enthusiasm to our effort. I have loved connecting with so many good people from all parts of the county, and am excited to build on what we've accomplished in the future.
We had so many real successes in this campaign that can't be traced on a precinct map. Our campaign made special connections to the community and we made strong gains in bringing together business and community leaders from every corner. We have to learn from this loss, go on, and do our very best to work on the issues of jobs, the economy, good government, and the environment. We need to support each other and support the candidates who bring the best new ideas, energy, and hope.
Please do not underestimate the amount of work we have accomplished. We walked out into uncharted territory. Although we wanted to win, we still beat a path through the political world that makes it easier for the next gay or lesbian candidate to walk behind us. We have made connections throughout the county that we will continue to build upon.
Our campaign is over, but our values and issues remain on the march in Pinellas County. We have local leaders and a new president to elect, and a discriminatory state ballot amendment to fight. Let's keep working hard for progress and support the candidates and leaders who fight for us every day. We have great days ahead!
I deeply thank everyone who was a part of the campaign.
Sincerely,
Darden Rice
Posted
on 08/27/2008
Dear friends,
Wow, talk about a close one. After months of campaigning and contacting tens of thousands of Pinellas County voters, our race has come down to, as it currently stands, 252 votes. Last night was a nail-biter for us and there's still no official result, so we wanted to give you a quick update on where things stand today.
First off, we want to congratulate Rene' Flowers on running a good race. She's been a strong opponent and we're proud that our race with her has raised the level of debate in Pinellas County and made us better campaigners and citizens.
As of this afternoon, with all precincts reporting, Rene' has a lead in our race of 16,702 to 16,450. That's a difference of 252 votes out of 33,152, or 0.74%. What is happening now is the Supervisor of Elections is working through the provisional ballots and the last few absentee ballots. Tomorrow afternoon the canvassing board will meet to determine the final counts. If the margin ends up at 0.5% or below, an automatic recount is triggered. If not, they make the result official on Friday.
To be honest, we do not expect a miracle, and Darden is not trying to contentiously drag things out. We just want to see all the votes counted and respect the process that the Supervisor of Elections has underway. Darden is preparing for the likelihood of conceding and asking her supporters to rally around Rene' as the Democratic nominee.
In the meantime, we would like to thank you all again for all of your support! Together, we have achieved so much in this campaign. We built new bridges in the community, forged new ground on the issues, and worked for new leadership in every way possible. Progress often comes slowly, and it takes call after call, knock after knock, and campaign after campaign to move things forward. Together, we have done that in this campaign.
We may not have gotten the result we all hoped for, but our efforts were truly worthwhile and we cannot thank you all enough for all that you have given. Please stay tuned for another update from Darden after the votes are in and the results are clear, but regardless of the outcome of our race, please do not lose hope! We are going to pick ourselves up and keep working hard for our issues, our values, and our communities!
Thank you so much, and we will see you soon!
Rice Campaign Team
Posted
on 08/25/2008
Hi everyone!
Just a quick reminder here that tomorrow is Election Day!
After all the hard work we have all put in - canvassing, fundraising, calling voters, organizing events around the county - it all comes down to twelve hours of voting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 26.
Thanks to your support and the momentum our campaign has, Darden is in good shape heading into this primary. But the final, most important step remains, and we have a strong opponent who is turning out her supporters too. It is crucial that you all get out and vote tomorrow, and make sure your friends and family do too!
At right, you'll find voting info including a link to help you find out where to vote. Darden's race is for a countywide seat, so wherever you live in Pinellas, you can vote for her.
With a win tomorrow, Darden will be the Democratic nominee and will go on and face the Republican, Nancy Bostock, in the general election.
We all want Darden Rice in that County Commission seat, and we want her to have a big victory tomorrow and be off to a fast start for the general, so please, get out there and VOTE!
Thank you!
Rice Campaign Team
PS. Don't forget our Election Night Party tomorrow night at Midtown Sundries, 200 1st Ave S. in St. Petersburg, starting at 7pm. Join the team to watch the election results!
