Linda Campbell has drawn two opponents, who say the new fire station and lack of fire hydrants show the board's failures.
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 27, 2004
Incumbent Linda Campbell is known for her blunt talk and sharp tongue during fire commission meetings. In recent months, she has tangled with board member W.A. Adams over the best design for a new fire station. The sole current board member from the western half of the Fire District, Linda Campbell said she is running for re-election because people asked her to.
"I thought I could help and make a difference," she said of her original reason for running. "I've been hanging in there ever since. . . . I made a commitment here and I will continue on until nobody wants me."
The most pressing issue facing board members, Linda Campbell said, is "getting that building up. I want to get that fire station built. Long term . . . I think we need to be a three-station fire district."
Campbell touts her background in business and finance as pluses in helping her deal with board issues.
William Kent Litton said he is running because "I'm real big on public service. I've been helping out on campaigns for quite some time."
Candidates Litton has helped include Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young.
Litton said he also wants to help make the community better.
The new fire station is the biggest issue before the board, and members have made a mess out of it, he said.
"They seem to have opened up quite a can of worms, more than they thought they were doing, in building this new fire station," Litton said. "(It's) not through any fault of their own. . . . Any time you're developing land it can turn into a big mess."
Annexation and its effects on the Lealman taxpayer will continue to be an issue, Litton said.
Bob Shaffer has been attending fire board meetings and workshops regularly for about a year and a half. The board, he said, is not open to new ideas or community groups.
"I wanted to try to work together with some of the other community groups," Shaffer said. "They're not open to ideas and suggestions. . . . They don't want to listen. . . . I just think they need to be a little more open-minded and don't form an opinion before they hear what's going on."
In the long run, Shaffer said, the board needs to control or reduce spending and be wiser about expenditures. The board should also be more proactive in fighting annexations and ensuring the Lealman area gets more fire hydrants.
SEAT 1
LINDA CAMPBELL, 62, was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She has lived in Florida for about 18 years and moved to the Lealman area in 1993. She is a self-employed certified mortgage loan process and closing agent. She is a member of the American Society of Notaries, the National Notary Association and National Association of Signing Agents. She is a self-published author of children's books featuring Herbie the Helicopter. The books are used by emergency medical associations across the country to help familiarize children with what happens to kids who are injured and transported to medical centers by helicopter. She is married and has two daughters and one granddaughter. INCOME: Fees from business, husband's salary. ASSETS: Home, car, pickup truck. DEBTS: Mortgage. E-MAIL: lealmancommish1@aol.com
WILLIAM KENT LITTON, 45, was born in Charleston, W.Va., and moved to St. Petersburg in 1967 with his parents. He moved to the Lealman area about six months ago. He is a semiretired owner of a cell phone store. He served in both the Florida National Guard and the Army Reserve. His hobbies are boating, fishing, military history and politics. He is divorced. He is the brother-in-law of former Fire Commissioner Kathleen Litton. INCOME: Investments. ASSETS: Home, car. DEBTS: Mortgage, car payment.
BOB SHAFFER, 42, was born and raised in Johnstown, Pa. He temporarily moved to Lealman in 1983, then moved to Largo. He returned to the Lealman area about five or six years ago. He is a warehouse manager and counter salesman for Hughes Supply, a residential and commercial contractor's supply company. He is a board member of the Lealman Community Association, a member of the Lealman Revitalization Team, Pin-MAR (the Pinellas Model A Restorers Club) and MARC (Model A Restorer's Club in Tampa). He is married. INCOME: Salary. ASSETS: Two Model A's, house, car. DEBTS: Mortgage, car payments. E-MAIL: shafferseat1.tampabay.rr.com
