Letters to the Editors

Candidate reponse

Editor's note: The Times gives candidates not recommended by its editorial board the opportunity to write a response for publication. The following response was received from Peter Nehr, candidate for Tarpon Springs City Commission, after the newspaper's recommendation of Jim Archer in the March 19 city election. Candidates Norm Augustinus and Joseph Pisani did not submit responses.
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Peter Nehr: candidate for Seat 1
First of all, I would like to thank the St. Petersburg Times for its kind words about me: "well-qualified, informed;" deserving of "consideration by the voters;" and "Nehr is an excellent candidate with much to offer Tarpon Springs." Yet the newspaper did leave out some important differences on the issues between my incumbent opponent and myself.
Less than two years ago, 77 percent of Tarpon's voters said they wanted to keep term limits for their commissioners. Yet my incumbent opponent voted to put this item back on the ballot. I feel strongly that this would not benefit all of our citizens but only a select few.
Less than two years ago, a vast majority of Tarpon's voters rejected the commission's request to purchase real estate with a limit of $250,000. Yet my incumbent opponent voted to put this item back on the ballot and now wants no limit on any purchase or sale of property. This would mean that the commission would be able to buy or sell any property (including the hospital or golf course) without even doing an appraisal. This removes the rights of our 14,000 registered voters to make important, long-term financial decisions, and puts that power in the hands of only four people. In my opinion, this would be a potentially dangerous liability for our city.
Many of you know me as the owner of the Flag Shop and have said my successful business experience and patriotism will be a great asset to the City Commission. I am an independent thinker and will only vote for issues that make good, common sense for all our citizens. When elected I will re-evaluate what you have told me is an unfair and inequitable stormwater fee recently added to our utility bills.
If you feel the proposed changes to our City Charter are wrong for our city, if you want a commissioner with integrity -- one who will truly listen when you speak -- then on March 19 I urge you to vote for Peter Nehr. Peter Nehr is the right choice for city commissioner.

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