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Arntzen, Guyette have ability to guide Largo well

In nine days, Largo will have an election to fill two seats on the City Commission. Although some have tried to make this an election about "family values," there are more important issues on which to focus when electing municipal officials.

Largo has nearly reached buildout. The era of redevelopment looms. City commissioners can let it happen willy-nilly, or they can guide the city's transformation with a firm hand. Largo has other challenges: traffic and transportation problems, a downtown that still struggles, emotional and cultural divisions in the community, a budget with only so much stretch.

In the March 1 election, three candidates are vying to replace Commissioner Pat Burke, who chose not to run again. The Seat 1 candidates are Gigi Arntzen, 55, Mary Gray Black, 65, and Joshua A. Lindsey, 30.

Two candidates remain in the race for Seat 2 after incumbent Charlie Harper dropped out. They are Andrew Guyette, 47, and Rodney Woods, 47.

To prepare for making our editorial recommendations in these races, the Times conducted a lengthy interview with each candidate, attended public candidate forums and researched candidates' backgrounds.

Joshua Lindsey, a first-time candidate, has lived in Largo almost four years. The father of three young children, he is a full-time student at St. Petersburg College . And he manages a crew that delivers a local alternative newspaper and buys houses to resell.

Lindsey lives in the Clearwater-Largo Road redevelopment district and was dismayed about the prostitution and drug dealing there. He wanted to have a voice in the city's plan to remake that area. Lindsey seems sincerely interested. But he has not been on any city boards or gotten involved in civic organizations. We are concerned about his frequent job changes and a bankruptcy in 1999. Lindsey should wait for a more stable time in his life to run for office.

Mary Gray Black, who retired in 1991 from her job as city clerk of Belleair Beach, served on the Largo City Commission from 1975 to 1984, returned to the commission in 1989, then resigned in 1991 to run for mayor. She lost that race, as she did a 1992 campaign for the Legislature and a 1995 Largo commission race.

Black had not been active in city government recently, but she was asked to run this year by a resident upset by the City Commission's consideration of a human rights ordinance two years ago, and she is campaigning as the "family values" candidate.

But that is only a part of Black's campaign. "I really don't care for the direction the city is taking," she said, and she frequently makes negative comments about the city. She has commented that the city manager oversteps his bounds, city commissioners don't lead, there are "politics behind closed doors," there are possible Sunshine Law violations, and city employees are discourteous. Black proposes an unusual approach to leadership: citywide straw votes to determine how residents feel before the commission makes decisions on major projects - but she wouldn't want the votes to be binding on the City Commission.

How fortunate for voters that Gigi Arntzen is in the race. Her positive attitude, stability, willingness to make decisions and be accountable for them, and her constant involvement in Largo civic and government affairs for more than 20 years make her the best candidate.

Arntzen, who is married and the mother of two grown children, moved to Largo in 1973 and is making her first try for elective office. She worked for 30 years as a secretary or office manager in various departments of Pinellas County government but made time to volunteer in the city, starting out as a member of the city Beautification Committee in 1982. In subsequent years she served on the Library Board, Finance Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Board and the Planning Board. Now she is back on the Finance Advisory Board while serving as chairwoman of the Strategic Planning Committee. Arntzen said she has moved from board to board so she could learn about all of the city departments. Now she speaks with authority and understanding about city issues.

Arntzen knows that in these complicated times for city governments, Largo needs to keep up with technology, maintain a high quality of life for residents, manage spending carefully but invest in the future. She puts a high value on strategic planning even though it is time consuming. "Action without vision is a nightmare," she said.

She believes police and firefighters need improved technology to help them do their jobs. She supports redevelopment but with rules so developers don't have a free pass. She wants the city to plan for more pedestrian-friendly amenities such as wide sidewalks and bike paths. She mentions the need for a new sign ordinance so the city will look less cluttered and businesses will be easier to find. She looks forward to the opening of the new library - a good investment, she said.

Arntzen acknowledges Largo has some problems, but she is convinced solutions can be found. She has an infectious, sunny attitude about the city. "I've been happy in Largo," she said. "I've felt safe here." She wants that for others, too.

The Times recommends a vote for Gigi Arntzen for Seat 1.

Rodney Woods moved to Largo from California five years ago and began to notice, he said, that "the face of Largo appears to be just Caucasian." Today Woods is a candidate for the City Commission - the first African-American candidate in memory, perhaps ever. "I'm a winner already just running. The Constitution does work," he said.

Woods showed up at Largo City Hall three years ago with suggestions to help the commission memorialize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He regularly attends City Commission meetings and was appointed to the city's Strategic Planning Committee.

Woods, pest control manager for a landscaping company, says he is running to represent "the people who feel left out" in Largo, mentioning minorities and blue-collar workers. He wants to be a unifier. Woods is eloquent when speaking about those issues but less well-grounded on others. We hope he will stay involved in city affairs and perhaps run again.

A solid alternative is Andrew Guyette. A Wisconsin native and father of two college-age children, Guyette has lived in Largo 20 years. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of South Florida and a master's in management of technology from the University of Miami. Guyette was formerly a software engineer for Paradyne. Now he is an engineer for Honeywell.

Guyette ran for the Largo City Commission in 1995 but lost to Marty Shelby. The Times recommended him then and is pleased to do so again. Guyette is quiet and earnest, with an interest in community service. In 1991 he was appointed to the city's Finance Advisory Board and enjoyed studying the city budget. After he lost the 1995 commission race, Guyette went back to school for his master's degree. Last year he renewed his connection to city government by taking an appointment to the Public Works Advisory Board. Guyette has been a tutor and mentor in public schools and is a volunteer with Project PUP (Pets Uplifting People).

If elected, Guyette said, he will give careful scrutiny to the city budget and look for extras that could be cut to avoid another tax rate increase. He supports the city's Clearwater-Largo Road redevelopment plan but would like the city to do more to help residents who will be displaced from the area. He likes the new library and is glad the city built it big enough to serve needs. The city may need to consider buying land on the north side of West Bay Drive to kick-start redevelopment downtown, he said. As a commissioner, he said, he would focus on planning carefully so the city can be proactive instead of reactive.

We recommend a vote for Andrew Guyette for Seat 2.

Candidates not recommended by the Times may submit a response for publication. Responses should be 300 to 350 words and may not attack opponents in the race. Responses are due by noon Wednesday, Feb. 23, and should be submitted to Diane Steinle, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756; or they may be faxed to her attention at 727 445-4119 or e-mailed to steinle@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 20, 2005, 00:53:18]