Posted on 10/08/2006 2:26:20 PM PDT by jra
Donovan Brown, the Democratic nominee in the race for Florida House District 61, said Thursday he is currently confined in a mental health facility under the Baker Act.
Brown, 26, said he was admitted late last week to the Harbor Behavioral Health Care Institute in New Port Richey.
Now he is yearning to get out, to get back on the campaign trail and prime voters ahead of the Nov. 7 election.
"I need to be out with my constituents," he said in a phone interview from the Harbor.
A Pasco Democratic Party official on Thursday confirmed Brown remains the nominee in the legislative race.
District 61, which covers much of east and central Pasco and a small block in Hillsborough, has been held by Republican Ken Littlefield since 1999. He dropped out of the race and resigned last month to take a spot on the Public Service Commission. To replace Littlefield, Republican leaders chose Will Weatherford of Land O'Lakes, who is also 26.
Though he has battled mental problems for years, it was that series of events, Brown said, that sent him into a mental tailspin.
"They tried to choose a candidate who most unnerved me," he said of Republican leaders. "I think they quite succeeded in that."
He retreated, he said, taking long walks alone and sleeping little. His mother became concerned, and last week the two went to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. At his mother's urging, Brown went to the Harbor in an ambulance.
Once there, Brown said, he watched a video about water and in his mind linked it to the biblical story of Noah. Then he was taken to a shower and encouraged to step in to be purified.
"There were a lot of things on (the video) suggesting you'd be a bad person if you didn't step in the water. I wanted my mom to step in the water. I didn't hurt her in any way. I kind of helped her to it. I put her in the shower," he said. "That's the reason I think they Baker Acted me."
The Baker Act allows people to be held for psychological evaluation. Brown's mother did not return a phone message Thursday. A Harbor official wouldn't confirm his presence there.
Pasco's Democratic Party helped Brown during the qualifying period but did not recruit him and has not supported his campaign financially. said Alison Morano, party chairwoman.
Among his mental problems, Brown mentioned obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizo affective disorder, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Dorothy Lekarczyk, a clinical psychologist in Dade City, said those conditions could make leading a normal life difficult. She said symptoms of schizo affective disorder include thought and mood disturbance, depression and mania and hallucinations. "Many times it can be very debilitating," Lekarczyk said.
A Democrat who admits it!
"... ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee"
Like, for example, Universal Health Care, Nuclear Disarmament...he should fit right in with other Dims.
Another DNC Chair in the making.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
He's with his constituents right now.
Nope just another dem candidate here in Florida. Like many others, over the edge nuts.
"depression"
Let's all sing it again . . .
Happy days are here again,
the skies above are clear again . . .
But apparently it's no bar to serving in Congress.
L
This looney toon's version doesn't sound credible. His poor mother probably wishes they'd keep him locked up for good.
Most if not all democrats need to be'Baker acted'.The new demo slogan,To be Bakered!!
"There were a lot of things on (the video) suggesting you'd be a bad person if you didn't step in the water. I wanted my mom to step in the water. I didn't hurt her in any way. I kind of helped her to it. I put her in the shower," he said. "That's the reason I think they Baker Acted me."
Er...
I'd be interested to see any poll numbers from this race - especially a comparison of before and after this news broke.
"He's with his constituents right now."
Wow. The Harbor center is just down the road from my house. I should pop in and visit him with a few printouts of FreeRepublic threads just to make sure that he's still locked away for the upcoming elections.
I hope he gets the help he needs.
Sounds like a fine addition to the DemocRat party. Throw in some megalomania and he could get the DemocRat nomination for President.
Not a single better qualified dem in the county. They put their best man forward.
yitbos
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