Thomas faces Madden in district election
By WAYNE AYERS
Article published on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005  |
MADEIRA BEACH – Voters will be choosing between Planning Commission member Art Thomas and former City Manager Jim Madden for the District 3 commission seat being vacated by Commissioner Kevin Connolly.
Jim Madden
Jim Madden believes that his career background in public administration and community planning will be an important asset to him in serving as a city commissioner. Madden has held municipal posts in Pinellas Park, Largo and Madeira Beach over the past 27 years, including city manager positions in Pinellas Park and Madeira Beach. He is currently a managing partner in Lidia LLC, a property consulting and investment firm.
“Public administrators have to develop policies for the city commissions, and I am familiar with the processes and techniques used to solve problems,” Madden said.
If elected District 3 commissioner, Madden said that neighborhood concerns will be his major focus. He cites speeding, noise and drainage issues as problems he will work to correct.
Madden also plans to tackle communitywide issues, foremost of which is the status of the city’s master plan.
Madden said that citizens need a “comfort level” that the master plan is on target with what they want to see in terms of redevelopment. He said that he would recommend reintroducing the master plan concepts to the residents through public meetings and additional charette sessions.
“We need to go back to the people to put on a program and get their input,” he said.
Madden also sees abandoned and deteriorating buildings throughout the city as an urgent problem that needs to be addressed right away. “It is a blemish on the city that has to be taken care of,” he said.
The hiring of a special master to handle variance requests has proved to be a costly mistake, Madden said. He said each variance case decided by the special master is costing taxpayers three to six times as much as the application fee ($60) charged the petitioner.
Art Thomas
Taking a cue from former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, District 3 commission candidate Art Thomas is walking the streets of Madeira Beach, hoping to meet and speak with every citizen before election day on March 8. When interviewed for this article, Thomas estimated that he had covered about two-thirds of the city.
Thomas said that he is learning a lot from the citizens during his trek through town. The people are concerned, Thomas said.
“They are concerned about the developments they see going up, and upset about some of the variances given out by the old Board of Adjustments,” he said.
He said that the people also want to see the city cleaned up. Mentions were made of a rat problem. Also, residents mentioned boats and other vehicles illegally parked throughout the city.
Thomas cites his managerial experience in the military Special Services branch, where he oversaw base facilities, his background in the investment and insurance industries, and his service on the city Planning Commission as giving him the skills needed to address the city’s challenges.
“I learned management, financial and people skills which I can take to the commission,” he said.
As he views the cityscape of Madeira Beach, Thomas sees what he describes as “architectural sprawl.”
Thomas said that the city needs to work on implementing the development concepts outlined in the master plan.
Thomas cited the 140th Avenue beautification project as an example of what he would like to see done throughout the city.
If elected, Thomas said he will push for more involvement by the commission in development projects “before they become a done deal.”
Thomas also said that he will press for greater code enforcement in the city. “We need to get on the blighted areas and get them cleaned up,” he said.
|
Article published on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
