by Mark Matthews
Democrat Suzanne Kosmas, a former Florida state lawmaker, announced today that she plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney -- setting up a potential barn-burner between the two veteran politicians.
Kosmas, who served in the Florida state House between 1996 and 2004, is the first serious threat to Feeney since the Republican powerbroker won his seat in 2002, and could capitalize on his ties to convicted ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
"People want to see trust and faith and confidence in government," said Kosmas, of New Smyrna Beach. "I took a look around and decided it was time for a change of direction for the people of the district."
Now a 63-year-old grandmother, Kosmas was a Democratic leader in the Florida House before term limits forced her to resign in 2004. While there, she earned a reputation as a defender of education and health care programs.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee heavily recruited Kosmas after a poll showed she would run well against Feeney, although the committee wouldn't release the poll.
Another asset: Kosmas had a declared net worth of $3.6 million in 2004, much of it property holdings in New Smyrna Beach.
But Feeney is a three-term incumbent defending a GOP-leaning district he helped draw when he was state House Speaker. Only about a quarter of voters in the district -- which also includes parts of Seminole, Orange and Brevard counties -- is in Volusia.
"I don't think she has big name ID outside a small area," Feeney said, noting he's glad Kosmas has legislative experience. "I would rather run against someone with a record. It's a bad environment for politicians. I'll post my record against anyone."
Feeney, 49, also has strong local ties, especially among local NASA workers. And he can raise cash. Last week he announced his best quarter since being elected, at $324,000.
Once a rising star in the Republican Party, his aura has dimmed since being linked to Abramoff, who was convicted in 2006 on corruption charges.
Abramoff took Feeney on a 2003 golfing trip to Scotland, a violation of congressional rules. He agreed to pay $5,643 to the U.S. Treasury for what he said was his share, but the FBI is still investigating.
But Kosmas has seen controversy too.
In 1998, she was part of a two-member board that recommended Volusia County purchase a $25,300 sculpture for a local library -- more than twice the county's allocated $12,000 budget.
Artist Doris Leeper withdrew the entry after it was revealed that the two women were friends and that Leeper had contributed $1,000 to Kosmas' political campaign.
"It was not a conflict of interest in my mind," Kosmas said. "This was a local artist who did phenomenal work."
Mark Matthews reports from Washington for the Orlando Sentinel, a Tribune Co. newspaper.
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Comments
Abramoff; The gift that keeps on giving.
(Like Macaca and Wide Stance.)
Posted by: C.Morris | October 10, 2007 6:47 PM
Jack Abramoff is the gift that keeps on giving...to the Democrats, thanks buddy!
From the AP:
(AP)California - GOP Rep. John Doolittle’s two top aides have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury investigating ties between Doolittle, his wife and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia were issued to Chief of Staff Ron Rogers and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Blankenburg. They were announced on the House floor as Congress returned from its August recess Tuesday after the aides informed the House speaker about the subpoenas, as required under House rules.
Doolittle, R-Calif., said in a statement that the aides would testify before the grand jury this week “with hopes of putting the matter to an end.”[..]
Doolittle has numerous ties to Abramoff, including accepting campaign cash from the lobbyist and intervening on behalf of Abramoff’s Indian tribe clients. Doolittle considered Abramoff a good friend.
Abramoff’s lobbying firm also paid Julie Doolittle’s Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions Inc., a near-monthly $5,000 retainer from September 2002 to February 2004, mostly to work on a fundraiser that was canceled in March 2003. Sierra Dominion’s records were subpoenaed by the Abramoff grand jury in 2004.
Posted by: John E | October 10, 2007 6:57 PM
Off subject;
BTW, over time I have developed a list of hilarious nick names for all the Republic candidates for Prez.
Here they are. Feel free to use them yourselves.
Sam 'Brokeback' Brownback
Rudolph 'Dressed to Kill' Giuliani
I ☁ Huckabee
Duncan 'Duck and Dive' Hunter
John 'The $700,000,000,000.00 Apologist' McCain
Ron 'Pauly Shore'
Mitt 'Capn. Willard' Romney
Tom Tan[cretin]
Fred 'Sub-machinegun' Thompson
Posted by: C.Morris | October 10, 2007 9:13 PM
I'd be interested in seeing what nicknames you come up with for the Dems.
Posted by: Perch Rapala | October 10, 2007 11:39 PM
I'd be interested in seeing what nicknames you come up with for the Dems.
Posted by: Perch Rapala | October 10, 2007 11:39 PM
Perch rider,
Hmmmm?...how about "one of these fine candidates will be our next President"?
Posted by: John E | October 11, 2007 1:20 AM
Joseph (The Carpenter) Biden
Hillary (The Thrillery) Clinton
Christopher (The Christ Bearer) Dodd
John (JFK) Edwards
Mike (Ravel) Gravel
Dennis (Koochie Man) Kucinich
Barack (The Rock) Obama
Bill (Sweet Willy) Richardson
Perch,
There ya go.
Couldn't come up with your own list?
Posted by: C.Morris | October 11, 2007 9:43 AM
Suzanne Kosmas won't beat Tom Feeny he is an incumbent. Amazing how driveby media hypes Dem candidates over the GOP ones. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | October 11, 2007 2:03 PM
Does the Democratic party really believe they can run one crook against another and convince people to vote for them? We had a great candidate in Clint Curtis that Feeney was petrified to even debate. Curtis had been a witness against him for several questionable activities and asked for a public polygraph debate. Feeney could do nothing but hide. No chance a Democrat of questionable ethics will beat out a Republican of questionable ethics in this part of Florida. If the DCCC would not support Mr. Curtis at least they could have found someone with equally impressive ethics as he has demonstrated.
They just gave us another crook with a D by their name.
Posted by: abright | October 12, 2007 10:26 PM
Don't give up on Curtis he is still running even if they want you to think differently. He will help restore our government to what it should be. As long as we all unite and vote for him in the primary. They party will not get a dime from me but Curtis will! Support Clint Curtis for Congress!!!
Posted by: B.J. from Seminole County | October 16, 2007 12:11 PM
Posted by: B.J. from Seminole County | October 16, 2007 12:16 PM