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Among the Kenneth City candidates for two open seats so far are an incumbent, a former member and a frequent critic.
By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 16, 2002
KENNETH CITY -- With nine days to go before the qualifying deadline, three people are running for Town Council.
Incumbent Fran Luke, former council member Russ Dumont and first-time candidate Ted Wiesner will compete for the two open seats. Council member Ron Sneed said he does not plan to run.
Luke, 70, has said she's running for a second term because the council needs her steadying influence more than ever.
Dumont, 66, ran unsuccessfully for the Kenneth City council in 1995 and 1996 but was appointed in 2000 to complete the term of Chuck Webber, who had resigned to take a job annexing property for Pinellas Park.
Dumont lost another election bid last March. He also served as the head of the Make Kenneth City Safer Committee, which campaigned in 2000 to abolish the Police Department in favor of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
"I'd like to try and bring a little stability to the city Council, a little harmony," Dumont said. "I was able to work with the mayor and council in a positive manner when I was on there before."
Annexation is one of Dumont's priorities. The town needs to square off its boundaries, he said.
Wiesner, 37, a familiar face and speaker at council meetings, had applied for Webber's seat when it came open in 2000.
Wiesner, who has been outspoken at times in his criticism of the council, said he is running because "I kind of felt like it was time to put up or shut up. . . . I decided that I should probably should do something more than complain."
He agreed that annexation is important for Kenneth City, but for him the most important issue is ensuring that council members listen to the will of the people.
"In my opinion, there are members of the council who are more impressed with themselves than they are willing to listen to the people," Wiesner said. "I think that's the largest issue there can be."
The council, a nonpartisan body of four members and the mayor, oversees the town government. Each member has charge of a government department. They meet as a group at least twice a month, once in a regular meeting and once in a workshop. Council members earn $300 a month. Kenneth City has a population of about 4,500.
Candidate applications can be picked up at Town Hall, 6000 54th Ave. N. They must be turned in by noon Jan. 25. For information, call Town Clerk Nancy Beelman, 544-6655. The election is March 12.