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Politics

Three way battle for mayor is historic

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published December 20, 2006

Nine months after she was elected to her first term on the City Council, Trina Watkins has resigned to run for mayor of Seminole.

Her decision means in March Seminole will have its first three-way election for mayor in its 36-year history. Watkins will face political newcomer and local business owner Arden Ford and Jimmy Johnson.

Johnson was recently appointed mayor to fill the unexpired term of Dottie Reeder, who resigned to run for state House.

Voters also will have a choice of City Council candidates. Three incumbents and one newcomer are running for three open seats. The incumbents are Patricia Hartstein, Dan Hester and Bob Matthews. The newcomer is Patricia Plantamura.

Watkins submitted her resignation letter Friday, three days before Monday's deadline.

The letter said Watkins was unaware that she could have remained in her council seat until the election had she submitted her resignation notice at least 10 days before qualifying began on Dec. 4. Because she waited, she had to step down Friday and the council will appoint a replacement as early as next month. She was to serve until March 2009.

Watkins did not return a phone message Tuesday asking for comment.

"That was out of the blue," Ford said. "It kind of took everybody by surprise."

Ford said he thinks Watkins' candidacy will help him.

"The people who are going to vote for me aren't going to vote for Trina anyway," Ford said.

Ford, who said he is running to give a new voice to the council, said, "I'm just going to do the best job I can. ...This is going to be fun. It's whatever the people want. I'm going to leave it up to the people."

Johnson welcomed Watkins to the race: "It gives the citizens of Seminole more candidates to choose from."

Like Ford, Johnson said the three-way race will make the election more interesting.

"I will continue to work hard," Johnson said. "I have a good, solid platform. It's up to the people."

Johnson is executive director of the Seminole Chamber of Commerce.

Plantamura, Matthews and Hartstein did not return phone calls seeking comment. Hester said he's running for his second term because "I have absolutely enjoyed my first two years. I think the city has accomplished a lot. There's a lot that's coming that's very, very important to me and the other residents. I think my background and expertise in some of these areas will be a plus to the community."

If re-elected, Hester, a banker, pledged to continue to be an outspoken guardian of tax money.

Seminole has about 18,000 residents. The mayor serves a three-year term and earns $9,300 a year.

Council members earn $5,562 a year. The two highest votegetters will get three-year terms. The candidate who comes in third will serve a one-year term. The election is March 13.

[Last modified December 20, 2006, 01:39:01]