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Tarpon Springs' Cindy Sanner exits after nine years of service and, on the same night, welcomes her successor. The mayor calls her one of the best.
By KATHERINE GAZELLA, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2002
TARPON SPRINGS -- After serving three terms on the City Commission, Cindy Sanner made a tearful speech Tuesday night as her term ended and she began her life as a private citizen.
"I think we've done a really good job in those nine years," said Sanner, 50, a site acquisition manager for Crown Castle International in Tampa.
She spoke about the city's achievements during her time in office, including a new gymnasium, library, public safety building, Cops & Kids center and sports complex.
Among her proudest achievements were coming up with the idea for the Discovery Playground, writing an adopt-a-street program and creating the Community Officers in Public Schools program, in which police officers visit schools and talk to students.
During her speech, she referred to a time on the commission when she was often a lone voice of dissent, when other commissioners tried to "bully" her into going along with their position. In recent years, she and other commissioners have agreed on most issues.
"She has been, in my opinion, one of Tarpon's best commissioners," Mayor Frank DiDonato said.
Sanner first was elected in 1992 and was re-elected in 1995. She sat out a year because of term limits, and then was elected to the commission in 1999.
She could have run again this year but decided not to when she learned that David Archie, who previously served on the commission with Sanner, was interested in running. Sanner said she did not run because she knew the commission seat would be in good hands.
"I'm glad you agreed to run for my seat," Sanner said to Archie. "It makes it a lot easier to vacate."
Archie, executive director of the nonprofit Citizens Alliance for Progress, was sworn in Tuesday night. Jim Archer, who won re-election last week, also was sworn in.
When they served on the commission together in the past, the two men joked about how often they were confused for one another. Archie, who is African-American, and Archer, who is white, called each other "my cousin."
Keeping with tradition, DiDonato confused their names Tuesday night and then quickly corrected himself.
"I'm suggesting that one of you volunteer to change your name," DiDonato said.
-- Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or gazella@sptimes.com.