Treasure Island race full of contrasts

TREASURE ISLAND -- The two candidates still in the running for mayor have divergent outlooks on life, politics and each other.

When the city's voters cut the field from four to two March 4, they left themselves with a distinct choice.

Candidate George Makrauer, a former city commissioner, is known as an involved and opinionated activist who helped found Treasure Island Voters Watch. Critics say his strongly worded viewpoints can be divisive.

Mary Maloof, a sitting city commissioner who is making her second bid for mayor, presents herself as the gentler choice. But her critics say Maloof's popularity -- she earned 44.4 percent of the vote in the first election, 133 votes shy of winning outright -- is based on her tendency to try to please all constituents by avoiding firm positions.

The candidates themselves notice the disparity.

Regarding Maloof, Makrauer says: "You can say that she appeals to people on both sides, but it's because she rarely ever takes a clearly defined position on any issue."

Maloof has something to say about Makrauer, too: "There's definitely a group that supports George's fireball way of doing things, and then there's another group that likes ... the way I'm thoughtful about things and quiet and a little more settled down."

The differences between Makrauer, 59, president of his own company, a communications consulting firm called ComAd Management Group, and Maloof, 64, who has been active as a three-term city commissioner, become more pronounced as Treasure Island faces a crisis that has divided the city for months.

Last year, the City Commission passed new land development regulations that allow 100-foot hotels on the beach under some circumstances, a move that enraged residents who were fighting to restrain the commission's authority to liberalize height rules just as the commission voted on the ordinance.

A circuit judge has since issued an injunction preventing the city from enforcing the new ordinance while the matter is sorted out.

Maloof voted against that ordinance with an explanation that Makrauer says typifies her approach to governing. She said she wanted residents to have the right to vote on future LDR changes in a referendum coming up days after the commission decision, but hoped residents would turn down the referendum.

Makrauer said Maloof's explanation should not be construed as an attempt to bring the two sides of the issue together. "Waffling is not compromise," he said. "Compromise is to bring about positive results. This city has not yet enjoyed any of what one could call positive results. I don't think there has been any leadership toward that end by anybody on the commission."

Makrauer also has accused Maloof of being lax about following state laws relating to public officials. He has accused Maloof of breaking the Sunshine Law on multiple occasions.

Maloof admits talking privately with Mayor Leon Atkinson about an issue the commission voted on, but doesn't think she violated the Sunshine Law because they discussed the matter after the vote.

Maloof insists that her approach to the land development regulations has been better than Makrauer's. Early in the city's process of reviewing the LDRs, Makrauer supported tall, thin buildings on the beach, believing the plan would help open up views of the water from Gulf Boulevard. But when he saw the plan the city presented to put that idea into action, Makrauer noted several problems with the plan, changed his mind and argued against the change.

In a view different than some people against the LDRs, however, Makrauer was also against a referendum that gave voters unprecedented power over future development.

Maloof said she hopes her measured comments will come across better to voters than Makrauer's approach, which can be more gruff. Makrauer said he has written some tersely worded e-mails about city issues in the past, but believes that his input has made a difference.

He also said he made those remarks as a private citizen, not as a public official, and has been more diplomatic during his run for mayor.

For all their differences, Makrauer and Maloof agree on one important point: They both want to rescind the land development regulations passed by the City Commission in October.

Candidates in the Treasure Island runoff election April 8 will face each other in a debate, 6:30-9:35 p.m. tonight at the Treasure Island City Hall Auditorium, 120 108th Ave.

THE JOB

The mayor serves a three-year term and earns $7,800 a year. The winner must receive at least 50 percent of the votes cast plus one vote. Voting takes place at the Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place, south of downtown. All registered voters in Treasure Island may cast ballots for mayor.

George Makrauer

AGE: 58.

BACKGROUND: A native of Ohio, Makrauer moved to Treasure Island in 1996 and was elected District 1 commissioner a few months later. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Vanderbilt University, Makrauer is president of ComAd Management Group Inc., which provides worldwide consulting services in operations, governance and communications. In Cincinnati, he worked in environmental management and pollution prevention. In addition to serving one term on the commission, Makrauer was co-founder of Treasure Island Voters Watch and is a board member of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. He lives on the Isle of Capri with his wife, Taaron. They have one daughter.

ASSETS: A home in Treasure Island, a small office building across the street from City Hall, a condominium in Treasure Island and investment rental property in St. Petersburg and Ohio.

LIABILITIES: None.

INCOME: Two property management firms, a management and Internet consulting business and rental property in St. Petersburg and Ohio.

Mary Maloof

AGE: 64.

BACKGROUND: Born in Illinois, Maloof moved to Florida in 1964 and to Treasure Island in 1980. She attends Eckerd College, where she is studying organizational studies with a special focus on public leadership. Maloof is serving her third term as District 3 commissioner. She is a member of the executive committee of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and chairwoman of the Agency on Bay Management. Maloof was a partner in a clothing design and manufacturing business before retiring in 1980. She lives on Paradise Island with her husband, Eddie. They have seven children and stepchildren. She is a member of the Treasure Island Islettes, the Treasure Island Business Association, the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce and the Gulf Beaches Rotary Club, of which she is a past president.

ASSETS: Paradise Island home, stocks and bonds.

LIABILITIES: None.

INCOME: Commissioner's salary.

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