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Politics

Voters say keep Port Richey intact

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published April 11, 2007

PORT RICHEY - For years, residents have packed City Hall to debate whether or not to dissolve this small waterfront city.

Tuesday, Port Richey's 1,919 registered voters finally got their chance to vote on a nonbinding referendum, asking if they wanted to spend $250,000 or more to dissolve the city.

In a close vote, 54 percent of voters shot down the referendum, while 45 percent voted for it.

In addition to the referendum, voters chose Richard Rober for mayor and Mark Hashim for City Council in two very tight races.

Rober got 53 percent of the vote, while opponent Stephen Johnston got 46 percent.

Hashim got 50 percent of the vote, which was just enough to edge out incumbent Phyllis Grae. She got 49 percent.

Rober and Hashim's win split the two-on-two match regarding the dissolution issue that emerged during campaign season.

Rober and Grae supported keeping the city. Hashim and Johnson supported dissolution.

Hashim had mixed emotions Tuesday night regarding his win.

"I am happy, obviously, that my voice was heard," he said. "I am a little disappointed that Steve's voice wasn't heard. I thought we ran a similar platform. But I am looking forward to working with Mayor Rober."

Rober said Tuesday he and the other City Council members will have their hands full with the city's dredging project and with lowering the millage rate from its current 4.7 mills.

"We're going to buy a bottle of Tylenol and get down to business," he said.

Tuesday's steady rainfall didn't seem to deter people. More than 43 percent of the city's registered voters turned out.

At the city's lone precinct at Knight of Columbus Hall, a constant stream of people stopped by to cast ballots.

Some were starkly against the hot-button topic of dissolution.

"I can't fathom why they would want to give up the city," said Judy Parisi, a 16-year resident of Port Richey.

Parisi said two-minute response times to emergency calls are an incentive to keep city-provided services.

"I have medical problems, so I like the fast response," she said. "The hometown feel is why I'm in the city. I just hope citizens did their homework and didn't let the dollar signs cloud their eyes."

Others, like Larry Solomon, voted to dissolve the city.

"I'm for getting rid of the city to cut costs," said Solomon, a resident since 1999. "We've been fighting this for a long time."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at 727 869-6229 or cspencer@sptimes.com.

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 23:18:11]