Candidates for the City Commission sharply disagreed over access to city staff and over a proposed Wal-Mart.
By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published February 9, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - People in this town have a lot of issues.
But few people have more to say about issues facing the city lately than Tarpon Springs' seven City Commission candidates. Whether they're talking large-scale development or community policing, local politicians are starting to draw their battle lines.
Last week, candidates tackled a ton of weighty topics during a public forum at the Tarpon Springs Recreation Center. Sponsored by the Greater Tarpon Springs Democratic Club, the 90-minute debate was one of several forums scheduled before the March 9 election. This month mayoral hopefuls Beverley Billiris and Anita Protos are slated to speak at three public and two private forums along with the other five City Commission candidates.
Candidates offered diverse answers to a broad range of questions, but few queries seemed to divide the political field as clearly as one about City Manager Ellen Posivach. Candidates sharply disagreed over a memo Posivach recently issued that cautioned staffers to refrain from becoming involved in campaign politics. Some also criticized another memo that discouraged candidates from approaching city staff directly with questions about how the city is run until the election is over.
Candidates' views on access to information and city staff points to a growing political factionalism that is likely to define the race.
On one side, City Commissioner Peter Nehr said Posivach's policy is too restrictive. The incumbent commissioner has recently faced heavy criticism from outgoing Mayor Frank DiDonato for what DiDonato called his "arrogant" approach to city staff. But Nehr repeated earlier assertions Monday that it's his job to ask questions about city policies and programs.
"Right now, I can't even go to the planning and zoning director to ask a question," Nehr said.
Under the temporary rule, requests for information must be directed to the city manager first. She will then arrange for the candidates to meet with herself and city department directors if and when it is convenient.
Nehr and commission candidate Peter Dalacos said during the forum the process was too cumbersome and called for a more open approach.
"I understand the people who work for us need to focus on doing their jobs, but we need to have better access," Dalacos said.
Billiris and commission candidate Cindy Domino-Sanner lined up on the other side of the argument. The two worked closely with the city manager during their most recent commission terms, which ended in 2002. Both former commissioners are staunch defenders of Posivach and her policies.
"She is the most professional city manager we've had in years," Domino-Sanner said.
Her friend and political ally agreed.
"We are there to make policy, not bully staff," Billiris said.
Political divisions between the candidates were just as palpable when it came to discussions about a proposal to build a Wal-Mart on a vacant lot on U.S. 19 between Beckett Way and Live Oak Parkway. Late last year, an unidentified developer entered into a one-year agreement to buy the property owned by Ceridian, a Minnesota-based human resources administration company. Although the massive development project will most certainly require city and county approval, Tarpon Springs officials say they know little about the property's future.
Which is one reason Billiris cautioned against making any premature decisions about the Wal-Mart. So far, few details about plans to develop the 75.4-acre lot have emerged, she said. Until they do, she's reserving judgment on the proposal. But Billiris said she had hoped to see something more upscale developed on the lot.
"I'd rather see a higher-priced industry on that land," Billiris said.
Protos agreed that it's too early to take a position on building a Wal-Mart on the lot. But the former mayor said she was worried about the retail giant's potential effect on Tarpon Springs' small businesses. She called for a city policy that would help protect local businesses, but did not offer a specific plan.
"We all know that since the malls have come in, Main Street USA has died," Protos said.
Although divisions over the Wal-Mart and other issues sometimes proved subtle Monday, local community policing was one topic everyone seemed to agree on. Although an ongoing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation of the Tarpon Springs Police Department has raised questions about some officers' conduct, every candidate supported the local police department.
Candidates Peter Kapsalis Lloyd and Spanos Harding agreed for once with Nehr, their opponent in the race. Like the rest of the candidates they dismissed the idea of allowing the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to take over city policing.
