Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Politics

Rejection fails to stop debate about dissolving

An incoming council member says interest in dissolving Port Richey will continue to grow.

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published April 16, 2007

PORT RICHEY - The people have spoken.

Last week, by a vote of 54 to 45 percent, voters rejected a nonbinding referendum to spend $250,000 or more to dissolve the little city by the river. They also elected Richard Rober, a mayor who supports keeping the city.

Then again, voters also elected a council member who ran on a platform to dissolve the city. Once he's sworn in today, Mark Hashim will join three other council members - Nancy Britton, Dale Massad and Steven O'Neill - who were swept into office last year after signing a pro-dissolution petition.

What does all this mean for the push to dissolve Port Richey?

"I don't think it's going to go away," Hashim said. "When 45 percent of the people are interested at this time, I think it's going to grow. As people are squeezed more and more by insurance and taxes, they'll want to explore options."

Hashim said he would like to create a citizens advisory board that would explore dissolution.

"I would like to see how it's going, because 45 percent is still a significant number of voters," Hashim said. "We need to listen to them."

Still, Hashim said he's looking forward to working alongside Rober during a crucial time in the city.

Officials are pursuing plans to dredge 29 canals, even though they don't have funding yet for the project, estimated to cost anywhere from $4-million to $10-million. A slate of townhome and condominium projects, progressing at different stages, could ultimately double the population in this city of 3,200.

Some residents wonder what will happen with such issues while the dissolution cloud hangs over the city.

"I don't think it'll play well for the city," said former City Council member Jim Priest.

Rober, the lone City Council member who didn't sign a petition supporting a referendum on dissolution, agreed that regardless of last week's vote, the issue will gain momentum, possibly tinging other issues.

"Certain issues are going to pop up that will delineate between City Council members that are pro-city and anti-city," he said. And Rober said he's prepared to be outvoted. "That's very possible, and it's certainly a concern," he said.

But council member Massad said regardless of who signed pro-dissolution petitions, city officials plan to work toward the city's progress.

"There's not been a more critical election in the history of the city, with all the projects and progress," he said. "I don't see anybody standing in the way."

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

[Last modified April 16, 2007, 08:02:37]