Democrats Attempt to Unseat Republican Incumbent in Tampa Bay TAMPA, FL (WUSF) - The power of incumbency is particularly potent in Congress, where the overwhelming majority of lawmakers usually face tepid opposition.

Local Democrats are seeing a crack in that wall: the 9th District, where first-time incumbent Gus Bilirakis is being eyed by a trio of opportunistic Democrats.

They're William D. "Bill" Mitchell, a former submarine officer from Tampa, former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, and Anita de Palma, a community activist from Clearwater.

The 9th District is a long, narrow gerrymandered swath of territory stretching from the Pasco-Hernando county line to eastern Hillsborough. It hugs the coast from Clearwater to Aripeka and includes parts of New Tampa. © Copyright 2009, WUSF