In Search Of The Democrats

Tom French: My mission seemed straightforward: Identify the handful of Democrats — eight of them, at last count — allegedly living among the beachfront castles of this extra tiny, extra wealthy town. Then track them down, one by one, and find out what it's like to stake a claim inside a mighty stronghold of the opposition, surrounded and outnumbered by Republicans.

But the Democrats of Belleair Shore, I soon discovered, are not easily found. Some seem like phantoms, living elsewhere much of the year, like so many others in this town, or constantly jetting around the globe on business. Those who can be found at home are sometimes reluctant to even answer a knock at their front door.

Some of their more conservative neighbors have a hard time fathoming that so many Democrats are numbered among the town's 83 registered voters.

"There's eight?" says the mayor's wife, Robin Robertson, smiling amiably. "I thought we had one."