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7 seek Indian Rocks Beach post

Voters will temporarily replace a commission member who is filling in for the mayor until the next election.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published April 20, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Seven residents are vying for a vacant seat on the City Commission.

One is expected to be selected Tuesdayto fill the seat vacated by Bill Ockunzzi, who as vice mayor automatically became mayor last month upon the resignation of Mayor Bob DiNicola, who moved to Ocala.

Whoever is selected will serve for only one year until the next regular election. At that point, Ockunzzi would resume his commission seat if he does not run for a full term as mayor.

The commission candidates are:

Jose L. Coppen: He moved to Indian Rocks Beach in 1995, and he has served on the city's board of adjustments and appeals, the Beach Management Plan ad hoc committee and two times on the planning and zoning board, of which he is now chairman.

Coppen also is a member of Action 2000 and the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Society. He is an engineer and certified financial planner who worked for more than 30 years in the planning, construction and startup of multimillion-dollar projects in the environmental, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries.

Kurt Gratzol: He has lived in Indian Rocks Beach since 1992. He serves on the city's finance and budget and review committee, and previously served on the city's planning and zoning and beautification boards. He is a member of CERT and Action 2000, and is chairman of the Florida Coalition for Political Reform. He made a unsuccessful bid in 2002 for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Gratzol works in sales of industrial finishes, and he previously was employed in sales and marketing positions for technical and industrial coatings companies. He holds a master's degree in marketing and finance from Washington University and a degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan and Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star.

Lampros Harocopos: He is a real estate investor who has lived in Indian Rocks Beach for 14 years. He holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from Arhimidis College in Greece. Before moving here, he owned and operated several diners in New York City and Westchester County.

Harocopos also owned and operated a high-rise building management company in New York City. He buys and sells real estate properties, and owns and operates rental properties in Indian Rocks Beach. He has not served on any city boards or committees.

Patricia Muneio: She has lived in Indian Rocks Beach for nearly three years, and she serves on the city's parks and recreation board and the executive committee. She is a member of Action 2000, the Beach Art Center and the Historical Society. She volunteers as a pastoral care minister at St. Anthony's Hospital, and she is a Community Emergency Response Team member.

Muneio works as a case manager registered nurse for Heartland Home Health Care, and previously served in a number of health care-related, supervisory positions for the state of Michigan and Macomb County. A legal nurse consultant and notary public, she holds a master's degree in community health care administration.

Jean Scott: She served as an Indian Rocks Beach city commissioner from 1994 to 2000, and also served on the city's parks and recreation and charter review committees. She has been a member of various community groups, including Keep Barrier Island Beautiful, Neighborhood Crime Watch, the Beach Art Center, the Gulf Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Library.

Scott is an agent with Tong Realty who manages her own investment properties. She has a background in marketing and business. Before moving to Indian Rocks Beach in 1987, she managed property in Stamford, Conn., and worked in the Court of Appeals in Atlanta, as well as in the entertainment and music promotion industries.

Janet Ward: She has lived in Indian Rocks Beach for nearly 30 years. She currently serves on the city's Intracoastal Waterway Committee. Previously, she served seven years on and was chairman of the city's board of adjustment, as well as the planning and zoning and Beach Art Center boards.

Ward also has been active in the city's citizens and homeowners associations. Retired, Ward worked for more than 25 years as an interior designer.

R. Victor Wood Jr.: He purchased property in Indian Rocks Beach in 1985 and moved here in 1994. He operates a commercial real estate business. Previously, he was director of development for Payless Shoes, president of development of Divirsefoods, president of Burger King Canada and director of international real estate for the McDonald's Corp.

Wood served on the city's budget review and control committee from 1999 to 2002, and he currently is president of Action 2000, a nonprofit citizens group that recommends solutions to future city development issues and funds public beautification projects.

[Last modified April 20, 2005, 02:56:36]