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Candidates puff war chests before March

Two for mayor and three for City Council count their dollars.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published January 31, 2007

This may be one of the smaller cities in Pinellas County, but some candidates are willing to spend big bucks for the opportunity to lead the city.

The five candidates - two for mayor, three for council - have raised a combined total of $16,144 with a little more than a month to go before the March 13 election.

Incumbent council member Dan Hester has the biggest war chest, with $8,470, according to the latest campaign finance reports handed in Jan. 26.

Of that, $3,000 is from his own pocket, but the other $5,470 comes from such diverse people as the Travis Corp. ($250) and East Madeira Corp. ($100).

The Travis family owns Harbor Lights Mobile Home Park in the southern part of Seminole.

Other contributors include the former mayor, Dottie Reeder, who donated $100.

Incumbent Bob Matthews has raised $300.

Most of that - $200 - came out of his own pocket.

The other two candidates, incumbent Patricia Hartstein and political newcomer Patricia Plantamura, have raised $200 each.

Had Hester not contributed to his own campaign, he would have been just a bit ahead of mayoral candidate Jimmy Johnson, who has raised $5,299, none from his own pocket.

Among Johnson's contributors are the DeLoach and Hofstra law firm. Partner Peter Hofstra was just appointed to fill out the remainder of Trina Watkins' term on the Seminole council.

Watkins had to resign to run against Johnson for mayor.

DeLoach and Hofstra donated $250 to Johnson, and DeLoach and his wife, Faye, gave Johnson an additional $500.

Watkins was third-ranked in money raised with $1,675.

Watkins loaned herself $400 of that and received $100 from former state Rep. Leslie Waters' Floridians for Florida's Future.

Fast Facts:

About the election

- The Seminole municipal election is scheduled for March 13. The mayor's office and three council seats are up for grabs in the nonpartisan race.

- The mayor serves three years. Council members' terms are three years, not two, because of a charter change.

- The two council candidates with the most votes on March 13 will be elected to three-year terms. The third-place candidate will serve a one-year term.

- Absentee ballots may be requested by calling the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at 464-6788.

- Early voting begins Feb. 26 at the supervisor of elections offices, 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater; 13001 Starkey Road, Largo; and 501 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

[Last modified January 30, 2007, 22:25:50]