This Week in Politics

Now through the November election, columnist Dennis Maley will rundown the week's big local, state and national political stories in this new, exclusive TBT feature. This week – Phosphate miners buy naming rights for Riverwalk. Buchanan not charged by Justice Department; is he running against Pelosi or Fitzgerald? And when administrators meddle in campaign politics.

Vern Buchanan's office announced this week that they have been informed by the Justice Department that it closed its investigation of all allegations against the Congressman and will not bring criminal charges. It's tough to keep track of allegations against Buchanan, but it seems like having narrowly escaped charges by the FEC last December, the only investigation remaining is a Congressional Ethics Committee inquiry regarding witness-tampering allegations.

When reached for comment, Buchanan's spokesperson Sally Tibbets said that the Justice Department will not succeed in continuing the failed policies of Nancy Pelosi. Just kidding, but Tibbets has been making sure to reference the former Madame Speaker, who is extremely polarizing with Republicans, every chance she gets in an effort to associate Buchanan's opponent Keith Fitzgerald with her. The campaign has even begun posting signs in Sarasota that read, Stop Pelosi, Vote Buchanan. Given Pelosi's unpopularity among Republicans and the registration advantage held by the GOP in the newly-redrawn district, it's probably a winning strategy.

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Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker issued what seemed like sort of an apology at Tuesday's BOCC meeting, ostensibly for failing to properly brief the entire board prior to the public announcement of plans for a new Little League field in Palmetto. One commissioner who was told was District 1's Larry Bustle, who happens to be up for re-election and happened to be the Mayor of Palmetto who oversaw the whole fiasco on the original land swap. In what seemed like an orchestrated campaign event, Bustle was was the only commissioner invited to speak at the press conference held at McKechnie Field August 28.

Bustle was given the opportunity to announce the county's proposed plans and be the first to endorse what had pretty much been someone else's idea, which everyone else had pretty much already agreed upon, giving the impression that he was somehow responsible for solving the problem, rather than creating it. Any idea that it was impromptu or an oversight, seemed to be cast aside when public emails revealed that Commissioner Bustle's prepared comments and even a post-press conference press release were already arranged with county staff the day before – prior to the rest of the board even being notified.

Of course, it would be improper for the county administrator to assist a board member in campaigning for reelection, or for that board member to use county staff and resources for campaign purposes, and the fact that the two have long been known as political allies doesn't help it pass the smell test. It's become almost commonplace for city, school district or county administrators to all but endorse the candidates they have smooth relationships with, it's just still … well, illegal.

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Apparently, the much ballyhooed, multi-million dollar Riverwalk project in downtown Bradenton is so valuable that the naming rights to its ampitheater are worth, get this – almost a hundred grand. $95 thousand a year to precede every mention and advertisement doesn't sound too bad I suppose, but that was the price the Bradenton City Council agreed to give Mosaic in a one time fee that will cover – make sure you're sitting down – eternity! You really can't make this up. A phosphate giant that has dotted the state with moonscapes and gypsum stacks will be forever associated with our new, supposedly ecologically pleasing, outdoor tourist magnet for a mere five figure “grant.”

Don't miss Dennis' latest column:
Manatee School Board has Rough Road in Earning Citizen Confidence