It’s been a few days since the St. Petersburg Times, last Sunday, declared Bob Hackworth the “Winner of the Week” in their political round up column:

One opponent, Max Linn, was a millionaire self-financing his campaign; the other, Samm Simpson, was a repeat candidate with a grass roots following. But Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth surprised everyone in the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 10 by taking 47 percent of the vote on Tuesday. Even if he loses to U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young in November, he’s upped his name ID.

Name ID isn’t the objective of this campaign, however, it’s about changing the status-quo in Florida’s 10th district. This brings us to Sunday’s feature article in the Times about Bob and the road ahead. A road that challenges the status-quo of representation that has lasted nearly forty years, though times have changed, as have the needs and issues important to the constituency of District 10.

Nevertheless, the mayor says Young should be held accountable for what he calls the failed policies of the Bush administration, including the poor economy, the cost of health care and the war in Iraq.

Karl Nurse, a St. Petersburg City Council member and Hackworth supporter, said Young’s strength is somewhat of an unknown because he hasn’t faced a serious challenger in more than a decade. He said the key message will be Young’s long tenure in Washington.

“Thirty-eight years is enough,” Nurse said. “I think with the presidential campaign at its back, that could make it a close race.”

“A close race” would be a moral victory, but not a victory for the constituency of the district and those across America who want the nation to stand tall once again and lead. That can’t be achieved by continuing with the same old standard of Bill Young that does little more than continue his congressional tenure well past its expiration date.