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Letters to the EditorsCandidates reply
© St. Petersburg Times The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. Here is one of those replies. Scott Chittum: New Port Richey City CouncilThe city of New Port Richey faces many challenges in the next few years. However, this is nothing new. Changing demands from residents, environmental regulatory agencies, state and federal governments and business all have an effect on what we plan for and ultimately make decisions on. During the past two years that I have served on council we have met many of these challenges head on. In the past when residents heard "redevelopment" most thought about downtown. The city wrestled for years to start residential redevelopment, everyone agreed it was a good idea. Finding the funds necessary to spur development was always the missing link. We met this challenge by expanding our CRA to a citywide basis. By doing this it created tax increment financing revenues which are the funds necessary for redevelopment. Redevelopment is now taking place in residential neighborhoods. The city provides grant money to all residents who desire to make additions to or redevelop their properties. Downtown business owners have available to them facade and sign improvement grants. Before I was elected to council I was appointed to and served on the Code Enforcement Board, Land Development Review Board and the annexation committee. Being a lifelong west Pasco resident and Florida native does not automatically qualify me for a seat on the council but it does give me the insight of where this community came from and where it is going. I feel I can continue to meet the challenges of this fine city and ask for your vote on April 9. Rainer R. Karls; New Port Richey mayoral candidateThis is addressed to the residents of New Port Richey. You read that the Times recommends Mr. Parker for the office of mayor. The paper calls it the "substantial improvement of the Altman-Parker years." Just look at the improvements made during these years. Nearly $4-million were spent on the downtown redevelopment project, $300,000-plus on the Cavalaire Park, a mere parking lot intended to serve alcoholic beverages. I just asked myself how much money was spent on your subdivision? The flooding problem still exists in the Jasmine subdivision, this problem has been with us for many years. I understand that our present government calls it a low-income area, and not ready to spend a dime on improvements. Is this the type of leadership you seek? On my Web site www.f-y-i.com/voteforraykarls, you can read of the public service that I have done. I never accepted one dime of compensation for any of the work I have done. Believe me, I spend a lot of time trying to do a good job. I am not seeking the mayor's position for any financial or other gain, but to serve the people of this city. So I am asking you the citizens of New Port Richey, go out and vote in record number for the city on April 9, for a mayor, not a figurehead. Jack Van Keuren; New Port Richey mayoral candidateThank you for considering me for the position of elected mayor of New Port Richey. My opponent Frank Parker is a self-described fiscal conservative. This concerns me and other taxpayers as to whether he will have a tendency to cut city services (police, fire rescue, and other items) that we now have. His dismay at the location of our new police station is baffling. There was no common sense in buying taxable property in the downtown area and taking it off the city tax rolls when approximately 7 acres of nontaxable property was available. Visit the new station on Adams Street and see what a great building the Police Department and the city now have on tax-free property.
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