Last night: one Martini Night guest argued that Rep. Studds, a Democrat, had a similar scandal in 1983.
Here are the facts:In 1983 Gerry Studds (D-MA) was excused of having sex with a 17-year-old male page in 1973 -ten years earlier. Republican Rep. Dan Crane was accused of also having a sexual relationship with a female page. A bipartisan Ethics Committee voted that Studds and Crane be reprimanded. Instead the House censured them. Crane was defeated for re-election in 1984. Studds was re-elected and served until 1996.
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Other Martini Night talk: Praise for the Left Behind series done by IN editor Duwayne Escobedo and for the paper’s stance on more funding for public health.
People are upset over county property tax bills and the County Commission stance on not rolling back millage. Could be the beginning of the end of “Hurricane Ivan honeymoon” for Co. administrator George Touart.
Liz Campbell – Dem. State House candidate, District 3 – was there. Said people are upset about insurance premiums and FCAT. She hopes hard work will offset the campaign war chest of incumbent Holly Benson.
Dem Jim Davis is given little hope of defeating Rep.Charlie Crist for FL Governor. Foley scandal will have little impact.
People are excited about next week’s Best of the Coast awards. Letters to winners and top finishers have gone out.