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Scandal-Plagued Mahoney Goes Down

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FL. Congressman Tim Mahoney speaks to a group of local business owners about the current economic crisis and how Congress is handling it at the Sebring Regional Airport.

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: November 4, 2008

When Congressman Tim Mahoney admitted two weeks ago he had paid a mistress not to talk about her affair with the freshman Democrat, then admitted to other extra-marital affairs, it was assumed his political goose was cooked.

Tom Rooney, an unknown Tequesta Republican when he filed last year, beat the incumbent Democrat by a 2-1 margin.

At 10 p.m., the results from all six counties in the 16th congressional district were incomplete, but Rooney led 151,820 to 93,357, or a 61-38 margin.

The affairs didn't make a difference to every voter.

"I'm not saying I condone it," said Gail Cohen, of Sebring. "But I voted for him."

So did her sister, Calys Figeroa. They cast ballots Tuesday afternoon at the Church of Christ on Sebring Parkway. "It didn't affect the way I voted either."

"I had no idea," said Jim O'Quinn, who had just walked out of the Sebring polling place. "All I read is the Tampa Tribune sports page."

Mahoney, said Clay Lucero, is a dishonest man for breaking his marriage vow, and then not admitting to the affairs until after ABC News outed him.

"I voted against him," said Lucero, a registered Republican. "I couldn't put a negative with the other candidate."

As for Ron Klausen, he drove his motorized wheelchair five blocks to vote at the church. Would he have enough power to make it back?

"Most of the time," Klausen said, "when I have good batteries."

Klausen, an independent-minded Republican, decided to withhold his vote in the 16th district congressional race.

"I didn't vote for anybody."

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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