|
Municipal elections set for March 10
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 |
|
 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – Ten municipal elections are scheduled on Tuesday, March 10, in Pinellas County.
Voters in Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Dunedin, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar, Redington Beach, Safety Harbor and Seminole will trek to the polls to make a variety of important decisions.
Residents of Belleair will choose between Brad Ackerman, Stephen R. Fowler and Stephanie Oddo in a race for commissioner at large.
In Belleair Bluffs voters will choose between Chris Arbutine Sr. and David M. Shimkus for the job of Mayor. Residents also will vote for two in a three-way race between John "Jack" Nazario, Robert P. Russo and Suzy Sofer for a two-year commissioner term. The ballot also includes a race for a one-year commissioner term being sought by Joe Barkley, Gary Nemes and Wanda Rusinowski.
Registered voters in Dunedin will choose between Dave Eggers and Deborah Kynes for the job of mayor. Michael A. Quill is running against Julie Scales for the position of commissioner, seat 1; Ron Barnette and Tony Scruton are vying for the job of commissioner, seat 2; and David C. Carson and John Tornga are in a race for commissioner, seat 3.
In Gulfport, Michele King and Jim Greenwald are running for councilmember, ward 2. Samuel Henderson, Courtland Yarborough, Mary Stull and Pam Prell are seeking the position of councilmember, ward 4.
Indian Rocks Beach voters will choose two out of three in the race for city commissioner. The names on the ballot are: Terry Hamilton-Wolin, Phil J. Hanna and Don House Jr. Residents also will pick yes or no on a charter amendment that would transfer the office of city treasurer to the city's administration.
The mayor's job is up for grabs in Kenneth City as incumbent Muriel H. Whitman is opposed by Teresa Zemaitis. Voters will also pick two between Harold L. Jividen, Allen R. Schopp and Ron Sneed for the position of council member.
Oldsmar voters will choose between Doug Bevis and Sara Normandeau in the race for council, seat 3. They also will vote yes or no on a charter amendment to appoint a charter review committee at least every five years.
Redington Beach voters will answer yes or no to a referendum question to decide if town commissioners’ salaries should be increased from $50 to $300 a month and the mayor's pay from $100 to $500 a month.
Three commission races are on the ballot in Safety Harbor. Joseph Ayoub, Robin L. Fornino and Karen Skiff are running for commission, seat 1. Barbara Ewert and Mary Lynda Williams are competing for seat 2. Nancy J. Besore and Glen S. Caristinos are in a race for seat 3.
Voters in Seminole will decide on two city council candidates from a field of four. The Seminole election matches incumbent Thomas Barnhorn against challengers Patricia Plantamura, Jim Quinn and Leslie Waters. The top two vote-getters will receive three-year terms on the Seminole City Council.
The city of Oldsmar has also is conducting a mail ballot annexation referendum election in the East Lake area, pursuant to Florida Statute 101.6102. It is the first-ever mail ballot election in Pinellas County.
As of March 3, almost 52 percent, or 2,945 of 5,762 ballots mailed had been returned.
The rate of return for mail ballots in the other elections ranged from a low of 20 percent to a high of 48 percent as of March 3, for an average of almost 31 percent.
Just over 35 percent of 1,445 ballots mailed to residents in Belleair had been returned. Belleair Bluffs registered voters had returned 43 percent of 685 mail ballots.
Dunedin voters had returned almost 37 percent of the 10,534 ballots mailed, and Gulfport voters had returned 35 percent of the 2,963 mailed.
In Indian Rocks Beach, only 28 percent of 1,296 mail ballots had been returned, and in Kenneth City, almost 35 percent of 1,077 had been returned.
In Oldsmar, 34 percent of 3,576 ballots had been returned.
The highest percentage of returns came from Redington Beach where 48 percent of 420 had been returned.
The lowest total, 20 percent had come from Safety Harbor where 5,505 ballots were mailed.
Seminole voters had returned 31 percent of the 5,622 mailed.
According to the Supervisor of Elections Office, none of the 10 municipalities chose to conduct early voting as provided by Florida Statute.
The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. For a list of polling places and to view sample ballots, visit www.votepinellas.com.
|
Article published on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
