School Board chair Maureen Dinnen won't run for house
Broward School Board Chair Maureen Dinnen said today she won't run for the District 91 house seat in 2010 although she wouldn't rule out a future bid.
The Democrat said she didn't want to leave her school board seat when she isn't even half way through her term.
"I still have some stuff to do in my school board district even though this is an absolutely horrible year,'' said Dinnen, who recently voted along with the board to layoff nearly 400 teachers.
Dinnen said another factor in her decision was the uncertainty about redistricting.
"If I were to make the choice at this time to go for that seat in 2012 it could look totally different,'' she said.
Dinnen would have been a strong candidate for the Democrats, but it would have been a tough race since the coastal Broward and Palm Beach district leans Republican.
"There is an inclination to be not too supportive of union people and that is in my background,'' she said.
This means Democratic leaders will go back to the drawing board to search for another candidate. Last week Freda Sherman Stevens, who lost a race to Rep. Ken Jenne last year, filed to run as a Democrat. A story in the Miami Herald last year stated that Stevens went missing for about a week after her loss following an election eve story by WPLG-ABC 10 that said Stevens had bounced checks to the station for political ads. She took issue with the timing, calling it dirty politics.
Stevens lost to Rep. Evan Jenne.
Posted by: Proof Read | July 15, 2009 at 02:00 PM
How come Amy didn't mention the other candidate that has talked to more people then even Maureen Dinnen?
The lead story of the blog is about Bob Graham being appointed to a Commission to look into the financial crisis and his chief of staff, Chip Burpee, who many people feel would be a better candidate and who is considering running isn't even mentioned?
Posted by: confused | July 15, 2009 at 02:34 PM
"Confused" I agree. An odd ommission. Especially after the breakdown of the race in the last article. Something is a little off about the coverage there.
Frankly, as a democratic activist my bet is that Amy's spoken to one person about the seat and that one person is probably making all the decisions Judy Stern. Maureen was Judy's pick and I know Judy gets to determine who the candidates are I just didn't know she also got to determine who the press covers or not.
But in any case, it's a Republican seat carved out perfectly for any Republican candidate.
Either David Maymom or Yomin's going to be the favorite regardless of their credentials and I wonder if that's really why all these democrats are taking a pass.
Posted by: Agreed | July 15, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Finally there was almost a bit of reality put into the debate.
This is a Republican seat! No democrat, especially one from the school board and with a big union background is going to win the seat!
I wish my party would find something more original then another republican attorney to replace another republican attorney but from what I heard Mr. Maymons running a great campaign. I look forward to meeting him soon.
As a side note though, you have to be impressed with this Burpee guy's supporters. Pretty passionate bunch. Everytime they find a way to get a posting on there.
Posted by: BrowardRepub | July 15, 2009 at 03:28 PM
I'm disappointed that Maureen's not going to run for the seat. However, you have to respect that finally someone stopped the game of political musical chairs.
Yet, not one person is willing to make the sacrafice and give it a shot? Are there not terribly important issues that need to be addressed?
Does anyone know if there will any other Republican candidates be entering the race? The democrats really can't find anyone?
PS. I don't know if these people are right but how does a guy who works in any position for Bob Graham not get mentioned as a serious candidate? Any more informaton on that candidate?
Posted by: notsosure | July 15, 2009 at 03:42 PM
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF REASONS WHY NOT TO DO IT MR. BURPEE!!!
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR SUPPORT!!
Posted by: GOBURPEEGO! | July 15, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Amy,
Any reason why you didn't mention Chip Burpee? Seems like he has more online support then any candidate in the race and if he does in fact work for Bob Graham and is in fact considering running why was he not mentioned?
Posted by: Good Question | July 15, 2009 at 04:07 PM
I think he must think again if he will run or not! We cannot let anyone like him is gonna ruin important things like this.
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