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Politics

Fernandez, Knapp step up; Halloway keeps seat

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published November 8, 2006

TAMPA - Temple Terrace voters changed the face of their City Council with Tuesday's election, ousting two of three incumbents and creating the potential for a new direction for the city's downtown development project.

Newcomers Alison McGillivray Fernandez and Mark Knapp led the field of six, with incumbent Ken Halloway placing third.

"I think that (the voters) are telling us they want to see some change in the direction the redevelopment is going, but they want to see some consistency, because Ken Halloway has been a strong proponent of the redevelopment," Fernandez said.

Halloway, who won a second term, considered his victory a mandate for the rebuilding of downtown Temple Terrace.

"I campaigned for our town center project. My principal opponent campaigned against that project," he said. "It will move forward."

Fernandez, 38, has worked as an auditor for a public accounting firm in Tampa and in Jacksonville. She has spent the past 10 years working with community and civic organizations.

Halloway, 73, worked as a CPA for seven years after retiring from the Army in 1985 with the rank of colonel.

Knapp, 40, is president of Knapp & Sons General Contractors. For 20 years he has owned and operated his own business.

Voters also rewrote the city charter, overwhelmingly supporting a dozen amendments that, most notably, change the way council vacancies are filled.

New rules will allow the mayor to name a five-member citizens committee to present two candidates for vacancies. The remaining council members will choose by secret ballot.

The revision ensures that the selected candidate serves no more than 180 days.

[Last modified November 8, 2006, 01:48:00]