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Attorney general steals municipal spotlight

Charlie Crist makes a special appearance to administer the oath to Indian Rocks Beach commissioners.

By JADE JACKSON LLOYD
Published March 27, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - James Palamara wanted to commemorate the start of his 11th year as a city commissioner with something special.

He invited his parents to the commission meeting and swearing-in ceremony Tuesday night. His granddaughter, a bubbly brunette baby, made a guest appearance.

But it was Attorney General Charlie Crist who stole the spotlight.

Palamara invited the state's top law enforcement official to administer the oath of office to him and Vice Mayor Bill Ockunzzi, both of whom were re-elected with no opposition March 8.

The task is typically performed by the city clerk and takes less than five minutes.

After donning eyeglasses, Crist asked the men to raise their right hands and repeat the oath. Minutes later, Crist congratulated them and spent the next half-hour signing autographs, posing for pictures and shaking hands with the 50 or so gathered.

At 8 p.m., the St. Petersburg native made a brief statement, thanking the commission for allowing him "to come home."

"The government that's closest to the people is always the best," he said. "You do a great job in Indian Rocks Beach. . . . I appreciate the opportunity to be here and I appreciate what you do."

While he was expected to make remarks about issues facing the beaches and take questions from the audience, the mayor announced Crist had to leave the meeting early.

Though he hasn't announced it yet, Crist, a Republican, is expected to be a candidate in the 2006 governor's race.

Once outside City Hall, Crist said his presence at the meeting had nothing to do with his gubernatorial aspirations. He said Tuesday marked the third time in about a year that he has sworn people into office.

"I don't have a campaign, so it's impossible for it to be campaigning," he said.

Commissioners got down to the business of the city once Crist left.

They gave City Clerk Deanne O'Reilly a recurring $2,500 annual bonus, as reward for earning the prestigious designation of Master Municipal Clerk.

The naming of a new vice mayor, though, drew heated debate.

Palamara suggested Ockunzzi, who served as vice mayor last year, be reappointed - a break in the city's tradition of rotating the position among commissioners.

Palamara said he preferred Ockunzzi to Commissioner R.B. Johnson, whose turn had come up for vice mayor, because Ockunzzi was not "procounty" like Johnson.

Ockunzzi's nomination passed by a vote of 3-2, with the mayor and Johnson dissenting.

The mayor resigned Thursday morning. He said he and his wife have bought a house in Ocala to be near his sister.

[Last modified March 27, 2005, 00:34:19]