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Letter to the editor

Politics

Candidates on bias, mobile homes, budget

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 17, 2007

On Nov. 6, Largo voters will decide among four candidates for the two available seats on the City Commission.

Vying for Seat 5 are Vice Mayor Harriet Crozier, 63, and John Mandujano, 52, a systems analyst for University Community Hospital. For Seat 6, Louis "Woody" Brown, 37, a local chiropractor who served as chairman of the city's Recreation, Parks and Arts Advisory Board, is battling against outspoken government critic Curtis Holmes, 58.

The following are the written responses by the candidates to the final five of 10 questions posed by the St. Petersburg Times. The previous five answers were printed Oct. 10. The answers were edited for length. Holmes did not submit answers to the questions.

1. The firing of City Manager Steve Stanton was one of several controversial resignations and terminations in recent months. What do you think should be done to bring stability to the city's work force?

Harriet Crozier
Hiring a city manager with integrity and caring ways for all employees.

John Mandujano
The commission should not vote to give raises and then fire someone. That is inherently unstable. The commission needs to be more consistent and honest in their evaluations.

Woody Brown
I think the city is stable. The employees that I interact with love working for the city of Largo. The recent hiring of a new fire chief should stabilize the one department that has had frequent changes in leadership.

2. Are you concerned about Largo's image following commission decisions to reject the human rights ordinance, fire Stanton and put the MLK memorial on the back burner, as well as incidents with racial overtones at a Largo school and past evidence of housing discrimination in the city? Should the city government encourage residents to be more accepting of differences?

Harriet Crozier
Largo's image is moving forward as seen by increased development, which has included development of affordable housing supported and endorsed by the city.

John Mandujano
I am concerned that all the good things that are done in Largo are being overshadowed by the incidents you cite. The commission should set a good example for the entire city.

Woody Brown
The city should enforce discrimination laws and strive to set an example as a workplace free from discrimination.

3. With mobile home park residents worried about loss of their lifestyle, should the city take action to educate mobile home residents about their rights and/or support them if their park is sold?

Harriet Crozier
The mobile home transition program was put into the Clearwater Largo Redevelopment District Plan. Our plan gives better treatment to mobile home owner and renters than the state mandates.

John Mandujano
The city has a responsibility to provide educational resources to residents about their housing rights, whether they live in a mobile home park, apartment or house. Residents have to take personal responsibility to learn about their rights.

Woody Brown
With the new neighborhood partnership program, the city is already working to strengthen neighborhoods, including mobile home communities. The best way to preserve the lifestyle mobile home residents enjoy is to establish a unified voice.

4. If the super homestead exemption passes in January, Largo could lose an estimated $2-million in property tax revenue. Where should the city cut spending if that happens? (At the time the candidates responded, the super homestead exemption was headed for the ballot. A judge has since struck it down. However, state mandated tax cuts are still possible.)

Harriet Crozier
I will be asking staff to begin this fiscal year to look into ways and begin talking to the private sector to sponsor many of the events that use general fund monies.

John Mandujano
Whether or not the exemption passes, the city should speak with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office about taking over law enforcement in Largo. The city should also privatize the city golf course and solid waste disposal. This would also provide substantial savings.

Woody Brown
I think the city is running pretty efficiently. If the super homestead passes in January, we should try to preserve what the city currently offers and refrain from adding personnel or services.

5. In recent months, I think the current City Commission dropped the ball on ...

Harriet Crozier
I cannot think of anything recently. However, I do feel we dropped the ball on not taking the opportunity to purchase the Ruggles property on the east side of U.S. 19.

John Mandujano
The tax break for a telemarketing company. It would have created 300 jobs over the next three years with salaries that would have been higher than the average for Pinellas County.

Woody Brown
The MLK memorial seems to change direction every month. The redevelopment district alcohol ordinance has left some business owners waiting for a decision for a year now. Meanwhile, the city staff has expended a lot of time and energy following inconsistent direction from the commission.

[Last modified October 17, 2007, 14:20:14]