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Commission seats highlight two cities' elections
With seven candidates vying for a commission seat, a few votes could make a difference.
By JOSE CARDENAS
Published March 14, 2006
DUNEDIN - If ever there is an election in which a few votes make a difference, it could be today in one of two races for municipal office.
In a city of approximately 40,000 residents, there are 24,911 registered voters.
The voter turnout usually hovers around 20 percent. A similar turnout today would translate into about 5,000 visitors to the polls.
Because only two candidates are running for mayor, the winner could get a few thousand votes.
But in the race for a two-year commissioner seat, seven candidates would divvy up the 5,000 votes.
If the race is competitive among all of the candidates, the winner could end up with fewer than 1,000 votes.
Dunedin City Clerk Jerie Guegan said there is really no way to project turnout.
A ballot that includes the mayor's office sometimes means a bigger turnout, she said.
But the lack of a heated issue - and there isn't one on the ballot this year other than a general concern among residents over condominium development - could mean a lower turnout.
One thing certain is that voters should bring proper identification.
A change in Florida law requires voters this year to have both a picture and signature ID.
"If they don't have a picture ID, then they are going to have to do a provisional ballot," Guegan said.
MAYOR'S RACE: Commissioner Bob Hackworth resigned his post two years early to run for the mayor's seat. His opponent is John T. Conway, who is retired from the construction business.
TWO-YEAR COMMISSIONER'S RACE: Ron Barnette is a former university professor and administrator; Julie Ward Bujalski is an economic forecaster for a private company; John R. Espey has served on the Pinellas County School Board; Michael R. Henkel is a health food store manager; Nancy McIntyre is the former director of the Dunedin Fine Art Center; Tom Osborne is a former city commissioner; and Mike Wallace is a business owner.
FOUR REFERENDUM ITEMS: Each is a proposed amendment to the city's charter.
Amendment No. 1: This would prohibit the city from using its power of eminent domain to acquire private property and turn that property over to another private entity.
Amendment No. 2: The city's charter requires a four-fifths approval by the commission to sell public land.
This amendment would require that the sale of land be identified as recreational or open space, city marina or land providing access to St. Joseph's Sound, or the waters of Florida be further approved by voters through a referendum.
Amendment No. 3: To conform with state statute and requirements by the county supervisor of elections, a city ordinance has already changed the date of municipal elections to the second Tuesday in March.
This amendment would make the change to the city's charter and in the future allow the commission to change the date of elections by ordinance. It also would order that elected officials assume office the second regular commission meeting after an election.
Amendment No. 4: With the new date for elections being the second Tuesday in March, an old ordinance that mandates that the vice mayor be appointed the first commission meeting in March no longer fits.
This amendment would mandate that the vice mayor to be appointed the second regular commission meeting after an election mandated by ordinance, whether an election is held.
[Last modified March 14, 2006, 00:54:19]
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