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Politics

Mayor's office is claimed with style

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published March 15, 2007

SAFETY HARBOR - For the second year in a row, Andy Steingold has not just swept an election, but vacuumed up more than four votes out of five.

Last year when he ran for re-election to his City Commission seat, he got 83 percent of the total.

On Tuesday, he got almost as much, 81 percent, trouncing Robert Parker to win the mayor's job and will serve the remaining year of former Mayor Pam Corbino's term.

On Wednesday, an elated Steingold said little more than that he was ready to catch up on his rest. Parker could not be reached for comment.

But observers said two issues played key roles in the election.

A Steingold campaign worker said the win shows that voters side with city officials and against the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

"This is a very clear mandate that the citizens of Safety Harbor are against the past Corbino regime and dislike the fact that the chamber had not treated the city properly by not disclosing their financial documents concerning what they did with the city's money," Patrick Whelan said.

Last year, Steingold and another commissioner insisted the chamber tell them how it spends thousands of dollars in funds provided by the city. But chamber leaders resisted despite the fact that the city is a member of the chamber.

Corbino, who resigned last year, had endorsed Parker.

Another issue that played a role in the campaign was restriction on downtown redevelopment - specifically, whether tall new buildings should be allowed to rise.

Although some builders also backed the newcomer, Whelan said Steingold "is not antidevelopment, he just wants it done properly."

Rick Zacchigna, president of Saxony Homes in Clearwater, which invests in projects in Safety Harbor, had supported Steingold in the past, but this year went with Parker.

"I just disagreed with him on one issue: height (restrictions)," Zacchigna said. "I want appropriate redevelopment."

He said although condo towers may not be suitable for the city, developments the size of Harbour Pointe in downtown Safety Harbor, a multi-use project approved prior to Steingold's arrival on the scene, are "absolutely appropriate."

Steingold has been trying to preserve Safety Harbor's quaint feel by supporting height and density limits in the downtown core.

"The business community was backing Parker," said Zacchigna. Steingold "has a year to win (us) over."

Residents of the Briar Creek mobile home community stood solidly behind Steingold, who has been helping them fight the Pinellas County School District which wants to construct a school bus terminal in their back yard.

But not all were successful at first try. Joe Daley, who lives in that neighborhood, said he went to Bayside Community Church of God to cast his vote for Steingold "when a check mark came up for Parker."

He figured he'd correct it during the review. Then he attempted to cast his ballot against the Penny for Pinellas. The machine recorded a yes vote.

Then it locked up altogether.

Poll workers eventually put Daley at another machine as he demanded, and he was able to vote the way he wished.

The malfunctioning machine was recalibrated and put back into service, according to supervisor of elections spokeswoman Nancy Whitlock.

She said these things happen from time to time.

Fast Facts:

Safety Harbor mayor's race *

Andy Steingold - 2,590 (81.47 percent)

Robert Parker - 589 (18.53 percent)

* Unofficial results.

[Last modified March 15, 2007, 07:00:30]