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St. Pete Beach election brims with choices
By AMY WIMMER, Times Staff Writer ST. PETE BEACH -- The biggest of the beaches has a big election this year. While half the coastal municipalities have canceled their upcoming elections because they attracted too few candidates, St. Pete Beach is gearing up for what promises to be a heated campaign season. Voters citywide will decide March 12 whether to re-elect Ward Friszolowski to his second term as mayor and also will have a voice in two significant referendums. In District 3, which includes the Belle Vista neighborhood of the city, voters will have their first chance to cast ballots for or against Commissioner Peter Blank, who was elected without opposition two years ago to his first term. And in District 1, the north side of the city, where Blind Pass Road construction is currently under way, residents will get a new representative. City Commissioner John Phillips has decided not to run for re-election, leaving residents Anastasios "Taso" Papargiriou and Julie Christman to compete for the seat. The past two years have been busy here: A new city hall is under construction; a city manager resigned last summer and a new one started last week; and proposed rules governing land development have proved controversial. Friszolowski, 41, an architect, is wrapping up his first two-year term as mayor after serving as a city commissioner for three terms. He will face Steve Gordon, 45, president of St. Petersburg-based International Environmental Solutions. Blank, 68, is completing his first two-year term as commissioner. He has two challengers in this year's election: William Allard, 51, a real estate investor, and Edward A. Ruttencutter, 52, a retired engineer. At least one new face is guaranteed to join the commission this year: Papargiriou, 49, or Christman, 37, in District 1. Papargiriou, who ran unsuccessfully against John Phillips twice in the past four years, owns TLC Food Mart on Blind Pass Road. Christman is a teacher at Gulf Beaches Elementary School and a self-employed artist. Two voter referendum questions also will be on the ballot: One would extend the mayor's term of office from two to three years. The other would allow voters citywide a vote in commission races in other districts. The district commissioners, while elected citywide, still would be required to live in the district they represent.
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