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History made at the polls

Voters say race and gender didn't lead them to pick Pat Gerard and Rodney Woods. It was their ideas that mattered.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published March 9, 2006

	[Times photo: Douglas R. Clifford]
	Newly elected City Commissioner Rodney Woods visits with Mayor-elect Pat Gerard in City Manager Steve Stanton's office at City Hall on Wednesday. Gerard will be the first woman to hold the mayoral office; Woods will be the first African-American to sit on the commission. Nearly 14 percent of Largo's registered voters went to the polls Tuesday.

LARGO - Voters chose change Tuesday, and they did so in some historic ways.

In a close race, they elected Pat Gerard as the city's first female mayor.

And they overwhelmingly chose Rodney Woods as Largo's first African-American city commissioner.

Nearly 14 percent of the voters registered in Largo cast ballots, more than doubling the response in last year's city elections.

Despite the historic milestones, several residents said they voted for new leaders for more important reasons than race or gender.

"Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman," said resident Stanley Gams. "I was just looking for the best person for the job."

And regarding Woods he said, "I don't care if Mr. Woods is black, white or green as long as he's ready to do the job."

Others said they were looking for more cooperation on the commission.

Bill Kuester, who lives near Southwest Recreation Center, said he and his wife voted for Gerard because Jackson was too easily riled.

"We didn't like some of his remarks," Kuester said. "He gets pretty testy about things."

A number of voters admitted they were offended by racial issues raised by Woods' opponent, but none said they voted for Woods just because of his race.

"I think Largo's bigger than that. I think they just voted on what they wanted," said Ron Bortolini, owner of Durable Coatings on Clearwater-Largo Road.

But Bortolini added that the ball is now in the winners' court.

"They were all pretty much saying they wanted to communicate better with the public, work with businesses and work for the rights of mobile home residents. It's up to them to prove what they pledged," he said.

Gigi Arntzen, who unseated Commissioner Jean Halvorsen, said Largo voters made a statement about where they want Largo to go.

"We said goodbye to the past and said hello to the future," Arntzen said.

While Pat Gerard said she was proud to be the first woman elected as mayor in Largo, she admitted it seemed long overdue.

"I think that's kind of amazing. (Largo's) been around for a hundred years," Gerard said. "As long as I've been on (it) there has been a majority of women on the commission."

And Woods once again minimized the importance of race.

"It is history, but it's no big deal to me. All of those good ol' boy ideas from the past are just gone right now," he said.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 9, 2006, 03:00:34]