Congressman Bill Young(FL-13) has NOT passed away.

[Donerail]

http://www.saintpetersblog.com/how-i-got-it-wrong-congressman-bill-young-still-alive-and-kicking

[Donerail]

As a constituent, RIP to a a great public servant. Though I rarely agreed with him politically, he served our district with distinction and was widely respected for his constant support for the people of this community. We've lost one of the last of the statesmen.

May the next representative serve us even better.

Doubtful. Young's service to this community is legendary.

[Donerail]

the pleaseure young would have to watch us elect a true freedom fighting, patriotic constitutional conservative to this seat,

That will not happen and Young would not be pleased if it did.

[Donerail]

the pleaseure young would have to watch us elect a true freedom fighting, patriotic constitutional conservative to this seat,

That will not happen and Young would not be pleased if it did.

Evidence?!!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

Rep. Young was a statesman. National Journal ranked him as the 215th most conservative member of the House, and for good reason - Rep. Young was a conservative Republican, and I disagreed with him on many issues, but he, like so many area Republicans (Latvala, Fasano, Dockery), was actually interested in governing the country. When other Republicans were giving 20-hour speeches about Dr. Seuss, Rep. Young was working to pass legislation to benefit the people of this district. To replace him with a 'constitutional conservative' like Mr. Yoho a couple districts north would be an unmitigated disaster.

Anyways, a Democrat will win the special. Turnout drop will be mitigated by this being the preeminent open seat in the country, and the best Democratic pickup region this side of Denver, which means big investment in the district for the special. The top tier of Republican candidates have already declined - Brandes is out, Latvala is out, and Baker, though not out, has previously said he doesn't want to run for anything until his kids are out of the house (his youngest daughter is a junior in high school). Meanwhile, the Dems have a strong bench with the likes of Charlie Justice (my personal favorite) and maybe Alex Sink. And in the general they'll have the benefit of the most favorite of this city's favorite sons on the ballot running against the worst governor in the country.

[Donerail]

Word is that the NRCC is trying to recruit Weatherford (FL House Speaker - doesn't live in the district either) or Gualtieri (Sheriff) and that both turned them down. With Baker not likely to run, most probable candidate is a Young - Billy, Beverly, Tom, or their attorney/staffer David Jolly. Also possible are Frank Hibbard (Clearwater mayor - not a St. Pete resident) and Neil Brickfield (ex-County Commish - remember when Pinellas got rid of fluoride? Neil did that).

For the Dems: only notable ones that haven't declared are Manuel Sykes (President, St. Pete NAACP) and Alex Sink.

[Donerail]

Has Rick Baker closed the door on running?

He's said that he doesn't want to run until his daughters are out of the house - he hasn't specifically declined, but they're still in high school. Though if I'm Baker I'd start getting concerns about both St. Pete seats being represented by Tampans.