Redevelopment key in race
Safety Harbor's mayoral candidates take different approaches to the city's growth.
By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published March 12, 2007
SAFETY HARBOR - After voters speak on Tuesday, this city of 17,800 will have a new mayor for the first time since 1999.
Voters will choose between Andy Steingold, who has served as interim mayor since Pam Corbino resigned last year, and Robert Parker, a newcomer on Safety Harbor's political stage.
As in last year's election, redevelopment is a recurring theme as Safety Harbor grows while trying to keep its charm. And, as in last year's election, the candidates have different approaches.
Steingold is an adamant proponent of low-density development and height restrictions.
Parker's outlook isn't as strict, and said he wants the Chamber of Commerce to be able to walk into City Hall with a potential business owner and help them get a variance.
Parker is backed by chamber members, Corbino and several builders.
As residents might remember, there is bad blood between the chamber and Steingold.
Last year, he and former City Commissioner Kara Bauer pressed the organization about how it spends about $51,000 in funds provided by the city.
In heated meetings, the chamber fought against opening its books to the commission, even though the city is a member of the organization.
Finally, a report of the chamber's finances was made public. It revealed that while the organization had made improvements, it had not handled cash and checks as carefully as it should have.
Since then, the chamber has said commissioners can come in and look at its records, but cannot make copies and take them out of the building.
Parker said that's how business is done, and that he would like "to see the city and the chamber work together" and not be held back by what he called "personality conflicts."
Steingold has said he is being fiscally responsible and guarding the taxpayers' money.
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One day while riding around town in the miniature yellow Hummer he uses as a campaign vehicle, Parker put up a sign that caused quite a stir.
It said: Andy's Plan 2007: $4.4-million deficit.
"By definition, the city's outflow is greater than its inflow," said Parker. "What's wrong with saying it if it's true?"
But it's not true, say city officials.
"The city is in excellent financial condition," said City Manager Billy Beckett, who had cautioned Parker about using the word deficit because that wasn't accurate. "We have an estimated reserve of about $25-million."
After Beckett's warning, Parker said he removed the sign, but that he is thinking of putting it back up.
Beckett said he wasn't happy that Parker put him in the position of defending a budget approved before he became city manager.
He said he tried to explain to Parker that a reserve is nothing more than a piggy bank. If you need a major repair, you take it out of your savings.
This year, the city plans to use almost $6-million to expand the library, pay for the Boundless Playground, replace water and sewer lines, make creek renovations, restore brick streets and build new sidewalks.
When he heard about Parker's sign, Steingold was surprised.
"That's absurd," he said. "There is no deficit. In fact, that's how good government works. We saved up the money for years to pay for (these) capital improvement projects."
He said the city could have borrowed the money or raised taxes, but that wasn't necessary.
"Had my opponent ever attended one budget meeting or one City Commission meeting, he would have had a better understanding of how our city works," said Steingold.
He said he hopes voters choose to keep the Penny for Pinellas sales tax, which would raise more than $2-billion to help fund such infrastructure expenditures.
But Parker questioned whether the city even needed a pricey library expansion.
"Why do we have to have (new) offices? Why do we need additional meeting rooms?" Parker asked. "We have other meeting spaces, City Hall and the Rigsby Center."
Parker said he's not anti-library.
"I'm all for the library to be expanded, but for reference work," he said.
For his part, Steingold said that he is just trying to live up to his promise to preserve Safety Harbor's way of life "by balancing redevelopment with quaintness, provide a voice for our neighborhoods, be an independent voice on the commission and be fiscally responsible."
Eileen Schulte can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com.Fast Facts:
THE CANDIDATES
Safety Harbor election
C. Robert Parker
Age: 55
Background: Parker is a business consultant who owns a limited liability company. He earned a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences at the University of South Florida, and spent years working overseas. His latest job was at a biotech company, Regenetech Inc. in Sugar Land, Texas, where he served as president for two years. He and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Safety Harbor six years ago, and started a small business consulting firm, Rob Parker LLC. He has a daughter Lindsay, 29.
Assets: A house and five cars.
Liabilities: Mortgage, credit card debt.
Source of income: Residuals from a previous job and wife's salary.
Andy Steingold
Age: 46
Background: Steingold is a personal injury attorney for a St. Petersburg law firm. He graduated from the University of South Florida and the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala. He started his legal career as an assistant prosecutor in Tampa, from 1987 to 1991, before going into private practice. Before joining the Florida Bar, he worked as a stock broker and a car salesman. Elected to the City Commission in 2005, he stepped in to serve as interim mayor after Pam Corbino resigned last summer. He served on the board of directors for the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History. He was a candidate for state House and Hillsborough County judge in the early 1990s. He lives with his wife, Maryanne, and three children.
Assets: A house, two cars, stock, investments.
Liabilities: Mortgage.
Source of income: Law practice, city job.
THE JOB
Safety Harbor's next mayor presides at City Commission meetings and will serve a one-year term. The pay is $500 a month plus $250 a month for expenses. The city's election is Tuesday.