Dr. Ante Starcevic "father of the homeland" began his prominent political life in Bakar, on Rijeka county assembly, where Starcevic was a notary. The Assembly adopted a petition addressed to the Habsburg emperor requesting the Croatian political independence. Petition was drawn by Dr. Ante Starcevic, and was supported by the other Croatian counties and the Croatian Parliament. Because of this Starcevic had support among the people and in 1861. he got elected by the local population and for the first time became a member of the Croatian Parliament.