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Treasure Island City Commission -- District 1
By KATHY SAUNDERS TREASURE ISLAND -- All three candidates for District 1 commissioner -- Scott Barone, Phil Collins and Susan Givens -- pledge to rescind the city's new development regulations if they are elected. They aren't opposed to change, but all three candidates said they want to make sure new laws are supported by the voters. Two of the candidates have experience in local government. Givens, formerly Susan Carbonneau, served one term as the commissioner for Paradise Island before losing the mayor's race in 1997. When Stephanie Lavino could not run again because of poor health, and former Commissioner George Makrauer decided to campaign for mayor, Carbonneau said she was the only person on Capri with the experience for the job. "We need someone to fill Commissioner Lavino's shoes. This is not the time for on-the-job-training," she said. Collins said he believes his experience on the planning board for the past three years would ease his transition into the commission. Collins, a semiretired entrepreneur, vowed to be a full-time commissioner. "I can help perpetuate our island happiness," Collins said during a debate Saturday night. "I will make Treasure Island better, not taller." Newcomer Barone said he entered the race to bring some fresh ideas to the table. Barone and his wife, Elizabeth, have lived on the Isle of Capri for nearly five years and own a downtown business, Caribbean Way. Barone said he wants to help find ways to stimulate the local economy -- to get more businesses downtown and keep them there. "We do need stores," he said, "but we have to make sure they aren't empty in six months." Collins said the city needs to find ways to bring pedestrians downtown. One way, he suggested, is to develop a dinner theatre, combining the talent of local performers with a good restaurant to draw visitors. "I think it's a great way to get foot traffic into these little stores," he said. Givens said the city needs to build a parking facility. "Parking is the major missing ingredient in Treasure Island," she said. Barone, who has a background in information technology, said he wants to improve communications between commissioners and their constituents. Both Barone and Collins suggested improving the Internet capabilities at City Hall. For example, they believe residents should be able to pay city bills online. Another way to get more citizen input at City Hall is to impose limits on how long residents can serve on city-appointed boards. All three candidates said they would favor that idea. On the Isle of Capri, Barone said he wants to investigate ways to slow traffic on Capri Boulevard. Givens said she wants the city to consider removing City Attorney Jim Denhardt. Givens questioned the advice Denhardt gave the city during the recent development controversies and his billing procedures.
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