Out Florida Commissioner Kevin Beckner sued by ousted incumbent

[Political Tiger]

Last November, Openly gay Hillsborough County, Fla. Commissioner Kevin Beckner beat incumbent Brian Blair in his bid for re-election. Now, Blair — a former professional wrestler — has filed suit against the Victory Fund endorsee claiming that Beckner’s campaign “leveled false allegations of self-dealing and racism,” according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Beckner shot back, stating that everything his campaign said was rooted in fact. He also accused Blair of wasting taxpayer money with a frivolous lawsuit that would tie up the courts and distract him from his duties as a commissioner.

“If Brian Blair’s looking for someone to sue, he should sue himself,” Beckner said. “He defamed his own character and integrity when he consistently voted for special interests and self interests instead of the interests of the people of Hillsborough County.”

Barry Cohen, Beckner’s lawyer, accused Blair of being a sore loser.

“The people knew what he stood for as an elected official and they rejected him, and now he’s being a crybaby,” Beckner attorney Barry Cohen told the paper. “When he was a wrestler, I heard he was a crybaby when he lost. And he’s still a crybaby.”

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http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/03/12/out-florida-commissioner-kevin-beckner-sued-by-ousted-incumbent/