ELECTIONS 2010: Meek makes Manatee stop during bus tour

BRADENTON — Stumping on his support for adequate Medicare reimbursement for long-term care, U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek visited two local nursing homes Wednesday as part of his Real Dem Express tour.

First stopping at Casa Mora Rehabilitation and Extended Care center, 1902 59th St. W., Meek walked down the long halls shaking hands with residents and staff, and occasionally taking a second to have his picture taken with some of them or sign autographs.

The U.S. representative from Miami is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. His primary opponent is businessman Jeff Greene.

“It was great he wanted to stop,” said Michael Riveria, assistant administrator at Casa Mora, “because sometimes the elderly population is overlooked (during election campaigns).”

Riveria said elected officials should visit nursing and long-term facilities to learn about their funding needs.

“We need adequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to meet staff and quality-of-care levels, and have the right equipment,” he said. “We don’t need any cuts, we need increases.”

Meek said during an interview in his tour bus after the campaign stop that retiree, veteran and worker issues are important to him.

The local facility tours were organized through the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1625 union, which represents more than 100 of the employees at Casa Mora.

“I have strong union support,” Meek said. “That’s because I represent working people.”

He said during his 10 years in Congress he has worked to make sure nursing homes and hospitals get the proper reimbursement to hire adequate staff.

Local 1625 Vice President William Barry, who accompanied Meek on the tour, said his union endorsed Meek because of his work in Congress on proper staffing.

Barry also said the union supported Meek because of his position on other issues, such as Florida having an alternative energy policy that creates jobs.

“The other candidates say they’re behind that issue,” he said. “but have no plans, like Kendrick does.”

During his tour, Meek stopped in the facility’s kitchen to speak with the staff.

“This was great,” said Benesa Barnes, a kitchen supervisor. “I’ve been here 10 years and have never seen a candidate come into the building.”

Meek created a little diversion for some of the residents as he and his wife, Leslie, stepped into the day room.

The 30 or so residents stopped their activities and shook hands with the candidate and his wife as the couple worked the room.

“This is a bit of excitement for them,” said Susan Randall, director of nursing at Casa Mora, “It’s such a treat for them to actually meet a candidate since they don’t get out of the facility often.”

Randall said the staff and administrators assist the residents who want to vote in obtaining absentee ballots or getting those who can travel to the polls.

Early voting is currently under way for the Aug. 24 primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will face presumptive Republican nominee Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent, in the Nov. 2 general election.

After leaving Casa Mora, the Meek tour bus went to Riverfront Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 105 15th St. E., where more than 100 residents, staff and guests of the candidate and his entourage greeted him at the front door.

Holmes Beach City Commissioner David Zaccagnino was one of the supporters at the organized event.

“I’m supporting him because he has the experience and knowledge necessary for the U.S. Senate,” Zaccagnino said. “He’s smart and well versed on the things that the state needs.”

He said Meek was running a real grassroots campaign, unlike Greene.

“Compared to his opponent, a millionaire who is running his campaign on the air waves,” Zaccagnino said.

Earlier, Meek started the day at his Tampa campaign headquarters, where he took his staff to the polls for early voting.

He then addressed the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club at St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

After leaving Manatee, the campaign headed for a speaking engagement before the Sarasota Democratic Executive Committee.

Carl Mario Nudi, Herald staff writer, can be reached at 745-7027.