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People made their voices heard

And City Hall listened. Residents have a say on changes in land use.

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published March 19, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Bob Croslin] Bill Pyle campaigned for Harry Metz, who along with Linda Chaney, helped found the Citizens for Responsible Growth, a group that successfully fought development of taller condos and hotels.

ST. PETE BEACH - As it turns out, you can fight City Hall - and win.

In St. Pete Beach, a barrier island home to 10,000, a small band of residents have managed to turn City Hall upside down by taking control of local government, a show of civic assertion rarely seen these days, according to political science professors.

"Apathy seems to be so characteristic of so many levels in Florida," said T. Wayne Bailey, a political science professor at Stetson University College of Law in Deland. "This helps create a sense of civic empowerment."

The political upheaval in St. Pete Beach could be a catalyst of things to come in Florida, where residents increasingly are protesting big development projects that are approved by elected officials.

With limited help from professional consultants, Citizens for Responsible Growth, a small political action committee made up of a widowed mom, a stodgy former professor, a retired military officer, and a couple of colorful characters successfully fought the city's plans to allow for taller condominiums and hotels.

They beat the odds despite a $250,000 marketing campaign by developers, lawyers and hoteliers representing the other side. Their efforts made the city the first in the state to give residents the final say on what gets built.

Last week, the political sparring came to fruition when candidates representing CRG won a majority of seats on the City Commission.

In what has been a divisive election, the newly elected commissioners now have the power to stand up to officials who once wrote them off as a disgruntled minority.

"That's what democracy is," said Linda Chaney, a marketing director for Eckerd College who was elected last week after a two-year fight against condominium growth. "We put action to the statement 'government of the people, by the people, for the people.' "

Harry Metz, a retired military officer, is the other new face on the commission. He and Chaney helped found CRG and have spent the past two years challenging the city's growth plan, which would have allowed hotels to grow from five stories to at least 15.

Last week, nearly 50 percent of voters cast a vote, an unusually high turnout for a March election.

Mayor Ward Friszolowski, who's a frequent target of CRG's criticism, is now the only official on the commission who has consistently supported development. The others either opted not to run for reelection or have been replaced by candidates who have supported controlled growth during the past two years.

Friszolowski said he is looking forward to hearing what Metz and Chaney have to say.

"It is easy for people to say, 'No, I don't like that,' but now they are going to be in a position where they have to articulate what they want," he said.

Neither Metz, a retired military officer, nor Chaney, a marketing director at Eckerd College, have experience as an elected official. Metz ran for office in 2005, but lost. Both will be sworn at the end of the month.

The opposition has hinted that Metz and Chaney will be closely watched during their tenures.

Political researchers warn the transition from protestor to insider is not always smooth.

"They get used to going to City Hall and confronting people but when you are an elected official it doesn't work that way," said Lance deHaven-Smith, a political science professor at Florida State University. "They are going to see the issue from the other side of the table."

In the meantime, Metz, Chaney, and other residents want others to know that the battle has been won.

"I hope the mayor, city manager and city attorney got the message," wrote resident George Singer in an e-mail to city officials the morning after the election. "The registered voters have taken back their government."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

A modern-day David vs. Goliath

Two years ago, hoteliers argued that it wasn't economically viable for them to stay in the tourism business without more units, which meant increasing height restrictions.

Citizens for Responsible Growth argued that more height would bring too many visitors to the already crowded city. When City Hall refused to budge, CRG set out with petitions to collect signatures that would give voters control over growth management issues, including height and density changes.

They knocked on hundreds of doors, organized e-mail listservs and "telephone trees" as a way of keeping in touch. They also published weekly advertisements and held open house parties.

Hoteliers and business supporters fought back by raising $250,000 to hire a Tallahassee-based marketing consultant and fund a countercampaign that included commercials on network television.

At the time, city officials argued CRG was stretching facts and using intimidation tactics to persuade voters. The group once told residents the city would use eminent domain to take their property away.

But in November, the ballot measures were approved, making St. Pete Beach the first city in the state to give voters significant control over land-use changes.

[Last modified March 19, 2007, 06:23:17]