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City tweaks rules for coming election

The commissioners' votes are a response to violations of the city charter that were made in the last election.

By SHANNON TAN
Published November 21, 2005

LARGO - In an attempt to avoid the problems that plagued the last election, city commissioners tried last week to clarify guidelines for next year's election.

Code enforcement staff will now enforce regulations on campaign signs placed at polling places on election day. Petition cards have been changed in an attempt to follow the city charter. The city clerk will also add a list of do's and don'ts to the candidate guide.

During the campaign leading up to the last election, two commissioners made contributions to commission candidates, a violation of the city charter. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office cleared them of any wrongdoing, but city staff members were criticized for their involvement in the matter.

So City Clerk Diane Bruner asked commissioners Nov. 1 and at last week's meeting for guidance on issues raised at the last election.

Commissioners agreed that complaints of violations of the Florida Election Code will be reported directly to the Florida Elections Commission. People alleging violations of the city charter would be referred to the State Attorney's Office.

Other changes include:

Illegally erected campaign signs will be removed by city staff members and stored so candidates can pick them up.

Deletion of a section saying notification of final election results will be given in this order: candidates, mayor and commission, city manager.

Bruner will review campaign treasurers' reports and verify information.

The City Commission, except for candidates, will serve as the city Canvassing Board and certify the results of the election. This could raise problems later, as only four commissioners will serve on the Canvassing Board.

During the meeting, Commissioner Mary Gray Black opposed item after item. She disagreed with letting candidates place campaign materials in city facilities.

"I would like to see the city stay out of the election," she said.

Black also opposed a motion to have Bruner remove petition cards that do not meet charter requirements before sending them to the Supervisor of Elections.

"You're saying you're giving the right to the city clerk to violate the charter to remove petition cards?" Black asked.

"We're giving her the responsibility, yes," said Mayor Bob Jackson. The motion passed 4-1.

Black then insisted that each of the 200 petition cards should be notarized, to be consistent with the city charter. But such a move would cost candidates time and money. The cards have been used by the city for years, without any objection from the Supervisor of Elections' Office.

"We've got people who served this city a long time," Jackson said. "They've never had them notarized."

At the end of the meeting, Black said, "We had some (dissent) and some votes that were different and I don't want the public to think that is a reflection of our feelings toward one another."

Jackson, who is up for re-election in March, joked, "I'll be asking you to sign one of these petition cards."

But Black had the last word. "I'm not getting involved in any one of these elections," she said.

--Shannon Tan can be reached at shtan@sptimes.com or 445-4174.

[Last modified November 21, 2005, 01:05:18]