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Town embraces election with zeal

Yankeetown hasn't seen this much enthusiasm for an election in years, but after some hard times, the people are excited.

By ELENA LESLEY
Published August 7, 2006

Three weeks of baby-kissing, hand-shaking and door-to-door stumping will kick off in Yankeetown today.

"It's going to be a lot of red, white and blue," said Inglis resident Peggy Page, who works in Yankeetown.

The qualifying period for the restless hamlet's Aug. 29 special election starts this week, and residents aren't wasting any time.

Three have already turned in their applications to run for open council seats.

"And I just got a call about another one," said Levy County Supervisor of Elections Connie Asbell on Friday afternoon. "I'll just have to hold onto them until Monday."

Townspeople have started to pick their favorites.

Fliers are being printed. Signs are being painted.

Their enthusiasm shouldn't be surprising - there's never been an election like this in Yankeetown before.

Past races were subdued affairs. Most citizens didn't pay much attention, and there was only one event - a poorly-attended question-and-answer session - held at the Woman's Club.

The town's mayor, Joanne Johannesson, didn't even have an opponent in the last election. The mayor before her, Jimmie Wall, served for more than a decade.

To say the least, turnover was slow.

That all changed with the controversy over a proposed resort hotel on the Withlacoochee River. Turmoil split the community, making enemies of friends and sparking an exodus from the town council.

First there was Helen Ciallella, who resigned because she owned property under contract to the resort hotel developer. She was replaced by Dan Bowman.

Then Diane Blomgren and Roger Myrick quit on the same day.

Myrick came back, took part in a few controversial votes. Left again. Tried to return once more but thought better of it.

Thus commenced the quasi-quorum period. The council had three members, just enough to conduct a meeting, but it seemed impossible to get them together at the same time.

After numerous calls from the mayor, town attorney and citizens, Gov. Jeb Bush gave Yankeetown one last chance: get your act together by July 3 or I'm stepping in.

Then Council member Mary Pate submitted her resignation.

With only two members left on the council, and the town in financial and political disarray, Bush declared a "state of emergency" in Yankeetown.

In addition to giving the remaining officials emergency powers and forming a financial oversight board, Bush called for a special election to fill the three open council seats.

"Everyone I know is very grateful," Page said of the coming election.

Residents touted it as a triumph for democracy, and say they now plan to epitomize the American political process.

Citizens have organized three events, from the formal to the informal. The Woman's Club will host a political forum Aug. 25 and a newly formed group, Citizens for Responsible Government, will hold a meet-and-greet with the candidates Aug. 17 and launch a Web site with all their information.

Other residents are putting together an "old-fashioned political rally" at the Lions Club on Aug. 26, complete with hot dogs, sodas and dozens of flags.

"There aren't going to be any speeches; you don't meet people that way," said Page, one of the organizers. "All we ever had before was just sitting quietly and listening to people talk."

Elena Lesley can be reached at 564-3627 or elesley@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 6, 2006, 20:59:35]