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Election 2004

Issues at home find place on ballot, too

Though overshadowed by the presidential race, a few items are just for East Lake, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar residents to decide.

By Times Staff
Published November 2, 2004

There's a saying that all politics is local, and while the presidential race has dominated this election, voters in East Lake, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar have some purely local decisions to make today.

Voters will choose two fire commissioners in East Lake, consider buying land for youth sports in Tarpon Springs and decide whether to eliminate term limits for the Oldsmar City Council.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In East Lake, four candidates are vying for two seats on the East Lake Fire Commission.

In Seat 3, former commissioner Jim Nobles faces Mark "W+

Nobles served on the board from 1992 until last month, when he resigned after Weinkrantz complained that Nobles was trying to intimidate fire department employees who contributed to Weinkrantz. State elections officials have since concluded that the complaint doesn't meet their standards for an investigation.

In Seat 5, incumbent commissioner Jim Galloway faces former commissioner Chuck Schult. Galloway, 81, is a former university administrator. Schult, 74, is a retired steel company sales executive.

The fire commission oversees a department that serves about 33 square miles in unincorporated northeastern Pinellas County. Commissioners serve four-year terms and are paid $500 a month.

In Tarpon Springs, voters will decide whether city officials can buy property off Meres Boulevard for a T-ball field.

Tarpon Springs' youth baseball and softball programs already have too many players for too few fields, officials say.

As proposed, officials would buy 0.9 acres at 703 Meres Blvd. for no more than $53,500. That's less than the property's appraised value of $105,000.

The land is owned by an inactive local chapter of the Jaycees, a civic group that in the past put on a local fireworks show and held benefits for city schools. A representative of the Jaycees has said proceeds from the sale would go to either the national organization or another North Pinellas County chapter that may be forming.

The referendum is being held because the city's charter requires that city voters directly approve any purchases of land or buildings that the city buys with public funds.

In Oldsmar, voters will consider four proposed amendments to the city's charter. Three are considered to be housekeeping items. The fourth, however, would eliminate term limits for City Council members, including the mayor.

Currently, term limits dictate that council members can serve two consecutive three-year terms. If today's measure passes, elected officials would be able to run for office again regardless of the number of terms they have already served.

The city has had term limits for its elected officials since the mid 1980s, according to Mayor Jerry Beverland, who said he does not plan to seek another term if the charter amendment passes. The proposed change was recommended by the city's charter review committee, a five-member panel of citizens appointed by the council to examine the charter every three years.

The other proposed changes to the city charter include:

-- Adding reclaimed water, cable television, electric service and telecommunications to the charter's list of city utilities. This is a housekeeping change meant to update the charter, city officials say.

-- Lengthening the time provisions for filing a referendum petition from 30 days to 60 days after a council ordinance is adopted. Officials say this would make the referendums easier on residents circulating the petitions and city officials.

-- Increasing the time limit for the city to hold an election on a referendum petition from between 30 and 60 days to between 90 and 120 days after the petition was accepted. This change would mean that Oldsmar's laws complied with state statutes, officials say.

[Last modified November 2, 2004, 00:34:11]