The mayor's post is mostly ceremonial, but the candidates believe they have the skills to be a good ambassador.
By SUZANNAH GONZALES
Published March 21, 2004
INVERNESS - The city is ripe with big issues, most notably the sheriff's upcoming takeover of law enforcement services and the plans to build a new City Hall. But in the race for mayor, controversial city issues take a backseat.
Though the mayor does have veto power, the city charter-defined ceremonial position is more associated with smiling, cutting ribbons and promoting the city. The way the four mayoral candidates see it, it's about being a good spokesperson for Inverness.
Two men and two women are vying for the seat, left vacant by the resignation of Joyce Rogers, who moved outside city limits. The person who wins the seat after the special election on March 30 will serve the remainder of Rogers' term, which expires in 2007.
RON BELSER, 68, first arrived in Inverness in the late 1980s. He was on his motorcycle, stopped at a local motel, and called his wife to tell her he really liked the area.
They've been here since 1990 and have built two houses. "It's a great place to live, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else," Belser said.
He has been a crossing guard at Inverness Middle School for about two years. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Belser had a 32-year career with U.S. Steel. He is also musical, playing alto sax, accordion and organ.
Belser is a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Now, he's hoping to add mayor of Inverness to the list.
Belser entered the race early on, when he saw that no one else was running. He said he gave it a lot of thought, reviewed the charter and after learning that "the job of the mayor is to promote the city and good will," decided to step into the race. He ate four boxes of cereal to earn a computer program to make his campaign flyers.
Belser describes himself as a "people person." He attends events at four different churches in the community, where he said he finds camaraderie. "My idea would be to promote the city, try to get people involved in the city, like coming out to vote," he said. Belser said he'd accomplish this by being out there, by being visible. "Or play the accordion, maybe."
SHIRLEY R. (TENNER) IVEY, 55, has always wanted to get involved in politics. Now that she's newly retired and no longer raising kids, she saw the mayoral opening as her chance.
Born and raised in Inverness, Ivey remembers when there was just one traffic light and one cop in the city. "It has grown tremendously, yes," she said.
As mayor, Ivey said she'd like to see the city maintain its small-town atmosphere, where everybody knows everybody. She'd like to see the Crown Hotel regain its former status in the city. And she'd like to see a center where the city's teenagers can go for free, play pool or records, buy a hot dog for 75 cents and be chaperoned.
Ivey, who lives on Leroy Bellamy Road, started a crime watch in her neighborhood and has seen the trouble stop.
Asked why she hasn't voted in city elections since 1995, Ivey said, "I'm sorry. I can't think of why.
"I promise to do better."
If her youngest son, who died in 2002, could see her running for mayor, he'd say: "That's my mama!" Ivey said. "I do things I know he'll be proud of me."
If elected, Ivey said she'd like to be a "down-home mayor," who's easy to talk to, who people would see and say, "That's Shirley; that's the mayor."
"I think I would make a good ambassador of Inverness," she said.
BOB PLAISTED, 60, unlike his political opponents, has run for political office before, most recently in the last city election, when he lost his council seat to Marc Wigmore.
Plaisted said former mayor Rogers urged him to run for her seat.
From a public relations standpoint, serving as mayor would suit him better, he said. "I just have a good way with people," Plaisted said.
"We've had great mayors here," he said, "and they all loved people."
Feeling empathy sometimes made it difficult to serve on the council, Plaisted explained. Even though he would not be making policy decisions as mayor, he said he wouldn't have any problem with the unpolitical nature of the job or with being the face of Inverness.
Plaisted said he wants to see the city's vision move forward, and to be part of the city's beautification.
He considers his political experience as an advantage. He knows how things work, has developed relationships in the community and believes he is well-respected.
If he wins, Plaisted said he will not run for council and will continue to run for mayor.
Though many often turn to the mayor with their problems, Plaisted realizes the mayor serves as a point person who can direct people to where they need to go.
"If I can fill half of one of (her) shoes," Plaisted said of Rogers, "I'll be very proud of myself."
MARJORIE S. PULCINI, 75, said this job is made for her.
"I want to be the bow on the package," Pulcini said.
And if she's elected, the Withlacoochee Technical Institute award-winning teacher's assistant from upstate New York said she'd donate the mayor's pay back to the city.
"I'm not taking it for the money," Pulcini said. "I'm taking it for the love of the city."
(The mayor currently earns $325 a month, according to City Clerk Debbie Davis, an amount that's determined by the city's population. The pay may increase during the next budget year, she said, because the population just passed the 7,000 mark.)
Pulcini likes that the job is strictly ceremonial. "That would be a fun thing," she said. "You're not stepping on anybody's toes."
Her age, she says, is advantageous. "Been there, done that," Pulcini said.
She has been around and knows how to handle people, she said. And she said she still has energy.
When asked why she has never voted in a city election, Pulcini said she usually didn't know when they were.
If she is the city's next mayor, Pulcini said she'd be very visible, attending sporting events and barbecues, "so (residents) know Inverness cares about what's going on.
"I want them to say, "Yeah, she'll be there. She's always there. She's everywhere.' "
- Times staff writer Amy Wimmer Schwarb and Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Suzannah Gonzales can be reached at 860-7312 or sgonzales@sptimes.com
