For St. Petersburg City Council

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published October 22, 2007

A new day is coming to the St. Petersburg City Council, and that isn't just a campaign slogan. No matter the outcome of the Nov. 6 election, three of the eight council members will be newcomers to the job if you include James Kennedy, the person appointed to the unfilled term of John Bryan, who committed suicide last month.

The veteran members from Districts 3 and 7 - Bill Foster and Rene Flowers, respectively - are term-limited out, and none of the candidates in those races has been elected before. And while the names in the District 1 race are familiar, Herb Polson has served less than a year as the appointed replacement for Rick Kriseman, who moved on to the Legislature. The other District 1 candidate, Bob Kersteen, was on the council before but left in 2000. The city has changed quite a bit since then.

So the council will have less collective experience as it faces some looming challenges, particularly keeping the city's momentum going in the face of a real estate slump and revenue cuts imposed by the Legislature. That makes the choices in the current election particularly important.

District

1Herb Polson

The interesting thing about this race is that both choices - Herb Polson and Bob Kersteen - have extensive resumes involving city government. However, one of them is much more current with what's going on: Polson. After a 30-year career with the city, most recently as the liaison with state government, Polson retired to take the council appointment.

Overall, Polson's transition from city employee to policymaker has been successful. He did his homework on the district's issues and quickly connected with its residents. Though he was tentative at times when faced with public opposition to city policy, that is part of the valuable learning curve of a public official. Should Polson win election to his own full term, he is likely to gain self-assurance in the tough decisions that lie ahead.

In particular, Polson, 59, has a much more realistic view of how much the city will have to tighten its budget in the face of the revenue squeeze from Tallahassee. He understands the need to maintain a strong public safety program while not forgetting social services and quality of life investments. He would look to save money with reasonable compromises, such as looking to consolidate some city responsibilities with the county and shrinking some nonessential services.

Kersteen, 70, seems to be running for the wrong office. He proposes a radical remake of the city's administrative structure, yet those are decisions made by the mayor under St. Petersburg's form of government, not the council. The last thing the city needs at a difficult financial time is unnecessary sniping by council members. If Kersteen wants to run the city, he should wait for the mayor's race in 2009.

The Times recommends Herb Polson in the District 1 race.

District 3

Ed Montanari

Ed Montanari has put together a campaign with the kind of endorsements, contributions and issues that make him look like a political veteran. He is not. Montanari, 49, is an American Airlines pilot who made a name for himself by the evenhanded manner in which he led a citizens task force on Albert Whitted Airport.

Few city issues are as contentious as airport development, but Montanari sought and was able to reach a consensus. "I have an open mind. I am thoughtful and considerate," he says, "and I do not come with an agenda except to do the best that I can for our city." That is a trait that would serve him well on the council.

Montanari took 42 percent of the vote in a tough district primary. His opponent, Bill Dudley, is a former Northeast High School coach and teacher who finished with 29 percent. Dudley, who is making his second bid for the office, has deep ties in his community. But he hasn't shown the same leadership skills as Montanari.

In Montanari, voters will find someone who is looking to strengthen ties with neighborhoods, to keep code enforcement strong, to buffer residential areas near downtown from intense development, to provide constructive alternatives for teenagers who might otherwise find themselves in trouble.

The Times recommends Ed Montanari in the District 3 race.

District 5

James Bennett

After incumbent James Bennett handily won the district primary with nearly 67 percent of the vote, his opponent for the general election dropped out of the race. That left the city in a quandary. So while Bennett will appear on the ballot, the other choice for voters is "New Election," which would be held if Bennett fails to get the majority of votes cast. While it's disappointing not to have a real contest, there is no reason to go to that trouble. Bennett, 55, has been a competent and personable council member and has earned another term.

The Times recommends James Bennett in the District 5 race.

District 7

Gershom Faulkner

This district includes some of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in the city. Incumbent Flowers was able to build a consensus among her colleagues to address some of the district's needs, and her successor will need those skills to do the same.

Both Gershom Faulkner and Wengay Newton have been active in their community, though neither has run for office before. One of those newcomers stands out for his proven ability to forge alliances: Faulkner.

A decorated Marine, Faulkner, 36, has worked extensively for other public officials, serving on the staffs of state Rep. Frank Peterman and, more recently, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. Now, Faulkner's two former bosses, Peterman and Castor, are supporting his candidacy. In particular, Faulkner is interested in promoting educational and employment opportunities in the district and helping neighborhoods fight crime. He is involved in an effort to provide young people in the Childs Park neighborhood with constructive programs to fill their after-school hours.

Newton, 44, a professional photographer, is a gregarious man who has also served his community, particularly through the Westminster Heights Neighborhood Association. And Newton also has some good ideas on crime prevention. The difference in the two candidates comes down to who has the better experience and temperament for the job.

That would be Faulkner. Although he is still a little shaky on the details of key city issues, as is his opponent, Faulkner has shown the ability to connect individuals with their government. There is a troubling mark in Faulkner's past. He was arrested three times between 1999 and 2002 - twice for driving with a suspended license and once on a bad check charge. Faulkner has admitted his mistakes, paid his fines and moved on with a productive life, though he needs to understand that public officials are held to a high standard of behavior.

The Times recommends Gershom Faulkner in the District 7 race.

Opportunity to reply

The Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. Candidates for the St. Petersburg City Council should send in their replies no later than 5 p.m. Thursday to: Philip Gailey, editor of editorials, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Fax: (727) 893-8675. They can also be sent through our Web site at www.sptimes.com/letters/. Replies are limited to 250 words.

[Last modified October 22, 2007, 08:39:33]