Races for Community Development District panels determine who will have oversight of neighborhood amenities.
By JAMES THORNER
Published October 26, 2004
They're not quite city councils and not quite homeowners associations, but they dip into the pocketbooks of thousands of Pasco County residents.
They're Community Development District boards, and three Pasco neighborhoods have competitive races Nov. 2.
Developers set up the quasi-governmental boards to manage and maintain neighborhood amenities such as parks, sidewalks, landscaping and club houses. People pay CDD fees through their yearly tax bill.
By state law, board members serve four years and make up to $4,800 per year. Here's the lineup of CDD races this year by neighborhood:
- LEXINGTON OAKS, Wesley Chapel: Two seats are up for grabs. In the race for Seat 1, Carol Haynes of Spectacular Bid Drive, bookkeeper for the Pasco Education Foundation, is running against Donald Peters of Seattle Slew Drive, a retired businessman and naval officer. For Seat 2, Ellie Codie of Strike the Gold Lane faces Peter Hanzel of Riva Ridge Drive. Both Codie and Hanzel are retired and affiliated with several volunteer groups.
- NORTHWOOD, Wesley Chapel: Candidates are running for three seats. For Seat 1, Gary Hallock Jr. faces Andrew Mendenhall. Both live on Key West Court. Competing for Seat 3 are George Ayetin of Amelia Isle Court and David Wenck of Salt Clay Court. The Seat 5 race pits Elvis (Eric) DaGama of Key West Court against Charlie Meeks of Sugar Loaf Drive.
- HERITAGE SPRINGS, Trinity: Only Seat 4 is up for grabs. The competitors are Vincent Bahrenburg of Fallowfield Drive and Paul Zalon of Rambling Vine Court. Bahrenburg is a retired CEO. Zalon is a retired chemist.
Other neighborhoods called CDD elections this year, but candidates ran unopposed. Those communities are Meadow Pointe and Meadow Pointe II in Wesley Chapel; Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills; and Heritage Pines in Hudson.
