Divided by emotions and science, Pinellas County commissioners chose to stop adding fluoride to h2o inside a group of tense 4-3 votes.
A drive by dentists to oust two commissioners behind the move has arrived as expected.
Much less predictable: Implications that Commissioner Ken Welch, a fluoride supporter, is aiding dentists tries to unseat his colleagues, Nancy Bostock and Neil Brickfield.
A sequence of emails reveal several local dentists call to donate to Welchs re-election being a "cornerstone" with the effort, strategies to lobby to get a about face the fluoride decision, and biting criticism of Commissioner Norm Roche, a fluoride critic, as an "uneducated fool."
Amid that, dentist Johnny Johnson of Palm Harbor wrote that he attended a Welch fund-raiser and was seeking potential election rivals for Bostock and Brickfield, Republicans who voted against adding fluoride.
"We must ROCK & ROLL!!! Help!!!!!" Johnson wrote.
But when he hit send Jan. 27, Johnson inexplicably emailed the process to Roche.
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Roche browse the email and saw evidence of a political campaign involving one colleague (Welch) against another instead of a further discussion about improving dental hygiene in the county.
"I cannot and wont - either directly or indirectly - be associated with any opposition effort against any one of my Board colleagues," Roche warned in the Sunday email.
Roche, a Republican who recently joined the countys Election Canvassing Board, cited that role as a legal dependence on distancing himself from any activity linked to political campaigning.
Roche did not return an email seeking comment, and Johnson wouldnt agree to be interviewed about the email.
Brickfield expressed surprise to possess read that Welch could may play a role inside a campaign against him.
"Theres for ages been a culture on the Pinellas County Commission that incumbents dont get involved with races along with other incumbents," said Brickfield.
The dentists never have registered a political action committee, nevertheless they have met regularly concerning how to upend the vote. Most health experts credit fluoride with helping improve oral health for decades.
The group split without success to back a referendum to overturn the fluoride votes. Welch, a fluoride supporter as well as the boards only Democrat, opposed a ballot measure as risky. Hes managed to get clear the 2012 election will be a referendum on fluoride.
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"Im not organizing any other campaign, Im organizing my own campaign," Welch said. "Other candidates are coming forward for their own reasons, and its really not a secret that the elimination of fluoride are a wide issue on this county."
Johnson attended Welchs campaign kickoff Jan. 26, and wrote that Welchs "first point" in his speech was fluoride. Johnson recommended lining up experts to meet with commissioners to raised explain fluoridation. Younger crowd urged contributions to Commissioner Karen Seel, a Republican who backed fluoridation, and Welch.
Another attendee, Mark Weinkrantz, a Democrat on East Lakes fire commission, said Welch never spoke about a agenda to oust Brickfield or Bostock.
"As far as Ken being involved with any operation? Im certain Ken has preferences who he would assist, Im certain anybody would," said Weinkrantz.
At Welchs campaign kickoff at the Hangar Restaurant in St. Petersburg, Johnson met former state Sen. Charlie Justice, a Democrat, whose expected run for the commission spawned from anger over the fluoride vote. Johnson also attempted to touch base with former lawmaker Janet Long, another Democrat considered likely to run for commission following your fluoride votes. But she wasnt around.
They might face Bostock and Brickfield, respectively.
After Johnsons initial email, rhetoric escalated. Roche chided dentists resolve for helping poor children when most dont accept Medicaid patients. Johnson replied by having an apology and worried the e-mail would impugn the dentists effort as "poor and under-handed."
Then dentist Ed Hopwood of Clearwater - who denies any Welch involvement organizing opposition - upped the ante against Roche.
"He is definitely an uneducated fool that is playing the political game towards the better of his ability," Hopwood wrote, zinging Roche for being "incapable of having past high school."
Concluded Hopwood: "Hang in there, we are going to all be better off when Roche has stopped being in office."
Roche expires in 2014.
Bostock brushed off of the re-election threat, saying she will defend her vote as providing people with "individual freedom" to choose whether to consume fluoride.
But after acrimony dominated the commission this year, she wants an even more civil tone before Novembers election.
"We dont really need this all type of infighting," she said, "because it wont serve anyone."
