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New stumping grounds: once-obscure Lealman
By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer LEALMAN -- A couple of years ago, few politicians had even heard of Lealman. That was then. This is now: 13 candidates pursuing state, county and local offices came here last week to woo voters. A couple of politicians even crafted their message to please community activists, saying they support the idea of Lealman's becoming Florida's first bifurcated city. But apart from bringing candidates into the area so voters could meet and hear them, Lealman activists hope Wednesday's forum has a long-term impact. "We want to let the people running for office see that Lealman is a community. This seemed like a good way of doing it," said Ray Neri, head of the Lealman Community Association, which sponsored the forum. The Lealman Fire District has about 19,800 registered voters. About 8,200 of them are Democrats; 7,100, Republican; and 4,450 have no party or are in a minor party. The district had a 64.3 percent turnout in the 2000 election, with 12,560 of the then-19,532 registered voters casting a ballot. As they stumped for votes, several candidates noted Lealman's standing. Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni said he'd been watching out for the community's residents even "before I knew there was a Lealman area. I've been there when you needed me." Other candidates acknowledged the potential power of Lealman voters by tailoring their message to major issues. Democrat Dave Buby, Morroni's opponent in the Nov. 5 general election, was quick to tell the audience that he opposed "spot annexation." Republican Ken Feck, who is running against Democratic incumbent Charlie Justice for state House District 53, opened with a promise that he would "proudly sponsor a bill to freeze lines." Both Justice and Feck also agreed that Lealman voters should be able to hold a referendum to decide if they want to become a city. During the past year, Lealman has fought to have annexation planning boundary lines match the borders of the Lealman Fire District, which essentially bans voluntary annexation within the unincorporated area. The County Commission moved the lines this summer, but the fix is for only one year. The county then backpedaled by restoring Kenneth City's annexation planning area. The effect was to again reduce the area of Lealman protected from voluntary annexations. Neri asked Feck and Justice about their stance on creating a bifurcated city. The question was important, Neri said, because some folks in the section of Lealman west of Kenneth City have become upset at the thought that East Lealman might become a city without them. East and west Lealman were severed this summer when Pinellas Park annexed a horse farm that connected the two areas. Pinellas Park's land grab seemingly meant that east and west Lealman could never be joined as one city because state law generally prohibits bifurcated cities. As it stands, the Legislature already would have to make an exception for Lealman since state law also forbids the creation of a new city within 2 miles of an existing municipality. "I don't have a problem if we can find a way in the law to have a bifurcated city," Feck said. "I would support that." Justice said he wanted to study the issue and talk to a couple of people, but he would support a waiver of the 2-mile rule. If the area wants to become a city, Morroni said, "Let it include west Lealman, too, if that's what you see fit." Buby said he believed the people should decide. If folks in both areas want to form one city, he said, a way should be found to allow them to do so. Surely, Buby said, the Legislature could find a way to "jump a small horse farm."
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Jeff Webb Letters |
