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Safety Harbor picks 2 interim city leaders

Commissioner Andy Steingold is chosen as mayor, and a former mayor will fill his seat.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published July 27, 2006

SAFETY HARBOR - City commissioners on Saturday chose Commissioner Andy Steingold as the town's interim mayor, filling the vacancy created when Pam Corbino quit last week.

Commissioners also chose former Mayor and Commissioner Claude Rigsby as an interim commissioner to fill Steingold's position for the next eight months.

Commissioners made both decisions before a previously scheduled work session on the city's proposed budget.

Steingold, 45, abstained from the vote on his nomination.

"Okay, the motion to appoint myself as interim mayor passes 3-0," Steingold said, drawing laughter from the commission chamber.

Later, Steingold said he was honored that his peers had confidence in him and that he would "most likely" seek the mayor's job permanently.

To fill Steingold's seat, Commissioner Kara Bauer nominated Rigsby because of his experience with budgets and other city business. A lifelong Safety Harbor resident, Rigsby, 81, was on the commission from 1970 to 1986, eight years as mayor.

"I don't think anyone has more knowledge of the city than Claude," Steingold said.

"I do not believe there's anyone more qualified than Mr. Rigsby," Commissioner Kathleen Earle said. "I would consider it an honor if he would join us on the commission."

The vote on Rigsby was unanimous.

"I will do all I can to help," Rigsby said. "We've got a lot coming up, hiring a new city manager and the budget. We've got to get it through."

Corbino, 57, resigned July 17 with nearly two years left to go in office.

A middle school computer teacher, she had served Safety Harbor as a city commissioner since 1992 and as mayor since 1999.

But Corbino's last year on the commission was increasingly troubled.

In recent weeks, Earle filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics alleging that Corbino tried to obtain Earle's Social Security number from a city employee.

Corbino denied the allegations, but a grass roots organization started a petition drive to oust her from office. She wrote in a letter to the city that, because of the agenda of some other commissioners, her staying on would have a negative effect on the city.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com or 727 445-4153.

[Last modified July 26, 2006, 22:13:32]