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Two candidates withdraw because of health issues

The men bow out of races for city commission seats, which could lead to two March 8 elections being postponed.

By JADE JACKSON LLOYD
Published January 30, 2005

INDIAN SHORES - For the second time in as many weeks, a city election is suffering from withdrawal. Two men, with medical problems, have bowed out of their races for city commission seats, putting two March 8 elections at risk of being postponed.

Bill Bennington, 55, withdrew his bid for District 1 commissioner in Treasure Island nearly two weeks ago. When he signed his candidate withdrawal oath Jan. 21, he cited undisclosed medical problems as the reason. Within days of that announcement, Neighborhood Times found out Vince Robertiello, a candidate for an at-large seat on Indian Shores' five-member Town Council, was forced to do the same.

Robertiello, 75, visited his doctor Jan. 10, hoping to investigate the cause of chest pains he'd been ignoring for a month. The stubborn bout of indigestion or arthritis he thought he had turned out to be three blocked arteries near his heart.

A routine doctor's visit culminated in open-heart surgery, an 11-day stay in Largo Medical Center - and waving a white flag in a political battle he never got to wage.

Because both candidates withdrew after their city's respective qualifying periods, the cities had to reopen the qualifying period for those interested in running. The deadline in both cities is noon Friday.

How could the withdrawals postpone elections? Absentee ballots.

According to an e-mail from the county's elections office to Treasure Island officials, elections officials must be able to mail ballots with all eligible candidates to voters at least 25 days before the election. With a one-week turnaround between ordering the ballots and delivering them, the office should be able to mail them by Feb. 11, the e-mail said.

Theoretically, then, both elections should proceed as scheduled.

Robertiello, a former journalist and retired oil company worker, will have no debates or campaign speeches, glad-handing or kissing babies. His immediate future will be consumed with getting healthy, he said Thursday, nearly one week after returning home from the hospital.

"If it had not been this serious, that I did not have to have this surgery, I would not have withdrawn for medical reasons," he said. "There's no way, from talking to the doctor, that I could come back and campaign. I'm just learning how to walk again."

If no one steps forward in Treasure Island, sitting District 1 Commissioner Phil Collins will be re-elected without his name appearing on the ballot.

Rick Taylor, owner of beach bar Ricky T's, is the only person who has picked up an application, said Jennifer Nye, Treasure Island deputy city clerk. As of Thursday afternoon, Nye said he had not turned it in.

Because Robertiello was the only challenger to two incumbents in Indian Shores, the election will be canceled if no one applies. That means Sandy Shuler and Jim Lawrence would each serve additional two-year terms.

Robertiello, a political novice, said his experience as a former journalist in New Jersey and for the local Beach Beacon and his civic involvement would have served him well.

He said he's disappointed he won't get to find out.

"I had a good chance of capturing one of the seats," he said. "I had a lot of support."

An eight-year resident, Robertiello said he is well-versed in the issues affecting his fellow beach dwellers.

Although he describes himself as having "an aggressive style," he said he works well with people and would have listened to residents' issues.

The normally active man, who walked 3 to 4 miles per day, said the severity of his health issues took him off guard.

"I'm not myself, and I probably won't be for another six weeks," he said.

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 00:10:19]