The four candidates for the three seats on San Antonio's commission agree expansion is a key issue.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published April 10, 2004
SAN ANTONIO - Even in a city of 700, growth is on people's minds.
To the candidates vying for City Commission seats, there's as much concern about protecting the city from crowding as about tapping into the changes.
Mayor Roy Pierce and Commissioners Heiskell Christmas and Wendi Merritt are seeking re-election Tuesday. Newcomer Justin Adams hopes to take one of the spots.
The three top vote-getters will win the available seats.
Pierce, 54, has served for the past nine years as mayor, a position chosen by commission members. He supports annexing new property but capping zoning at no more than two homes per acre.
"For a small city, that's important," said Pierce, a former Tampa police detective who now runs his own investigation agency.
He wants to use San Antonio's share of Penny for Pasco tax revenues - projected to be about $30,000 a year - toward projects already in the pipeline, such as resurfacing streets and building sidewalks. He also would like to lower the property tax rate, now at 2.4 mills.
"I can almost guarantee that we're going to be able to lower it again," he said.
Christmas, a 41-year-old computer programmer, was first appointed to the commission to fill a vacancy, then was elected in 2000 and 2002.
He is sticking to his mantra from four years ago that "slower is safer" where growth is concerned.
"We need to take our time and look at all aspects of the growth, and not just approve it because we know growth is coming," he said.
"We have to just go for a "best fit' philosophy."
Merritt, 36, said she's sensitive to residents who chose San Antonio because of its small-town charm and slow pace.
Merritt, a security officer for Hillsborough County schools, said San Antonio residents would rather drive a distance for shopping and restaurants than see those amenities crowd their neighborhoods.
"If you look at where people are coming from (such as Tampa), that's what they're looking for," she said.
Adams, 24, is a real estate agent with San Ann Realty who has lived in the city about six months. He has a favorable view of growth coming to the city.
"I think it would be good for San Antonio," he said. "I'd like to see some growth."
He named road repairs as his top priority.
"I'd like to see some improvements on the roads, and other than that I'm not real sure because I'm not in office yet."
Voters may cast their ballots at City Hall, 32819 Pennsylvania Ave., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
