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Politics

Nickeson and Bandoni lead in Safety Harbor

Nickeson easily leads Seat 3, and Bandoni narrowly leads Seat 4.

By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Election 2008 Pinellas voters renew school tax Hibbard romps to victory Slide Show: Election day Photos: Tampa Bay voters go the polls Complete coverage Incumbent Nadine Nickeson earned a one-year term in Seat 3 on the City Commission. Political newcomer Nina Bandoni captured Seat 4.

SAFETY HARBOR - Voters gave City Commissioner Nadine Nickeson one more year on the commission Tuesday.

With all precincts, but not all absentee ballots counted, Nickeson led pharmacist Mark Taylor approximately 54 to 46 percent in Seat 3.

In Seat 4, the contest was much closer.

Nina Bandoni, the former head of Clearwater's housing department, held a razor-thin lead over financial adviser Robin Fornino.

"I'm grateful to the voters, my neighbors and my friends for their support and I feel like I can do a good job for them," Bandoni said.

Bandoni, owner of a home-based development company called Turnstone Properties, said she believes voters supported her because she's "not angry" and because she spoke to the residents from her heart.

"I think the voters are tired of the fighting and they want someone who will bring the community back together," she said, referring to recent ethics complaints and investigations involving former commissioners.

Fornino, who ran because she did not believe the commissioners were listening to the residents, was upbeat during an interview around 9 p.m.

"I'm still going to be out there working for the city of Safety Harbor," she said. "And I look forward to Nina doing the excellent job she said she's going to do and meeting the needs of Safety Harbor and not outside interests."

The key issues in this election were redevelopment and increasing the city's green space.

Nickeson, a longtime community volunteer, was first elected to the commission in 1997, but lost her seat to James McCormick in 2006. She was elected last year when Taylor, her only would-be opponent, made an error on his petition forms and did not qualify as a candidate.

After McCormick and former Vice Mayor Kathleen Earle as well as two city managers resigned, Nickeson decided to go for the one year remaining in McCormick's term in Seat 3.

"We have had too much change in Safety Harbor on the administrative level," she told the Times during the campaign.

Taylor had criticized Nickeson's votes on redevelopment and said he wanted to be the citizens' voice at City Hall.

One of Nickeson's supporters was Susan Larsen, 58.

"I'm sure Mark's (Taylor) a nice guy, but we need some people who have been involved in the community on a long-time basis," she said. "We don't need any more newcomers."

Harry Russell, 69, voted for Nickeson and Bandoni because he wants to see the downtown grow and thrive.

"I don't want the city to dry up," he said. "I don't want people leaving Safety Harbor and going to Clearwater to shop. I want people from Clearwater to come to Safety Harbor to shop."

Dennis Spicer, 60, said he voted for Fornino and Taylor.

"I think they represent the town and what the townspeople are thinking," he said. "The town's going to be developed. I just want to make sure it's developed right. ... There's a difference between development and rape."

Safety Harbor

(Unofficial results)

Commission Seat 3

Nickeson 2,975Taylor 2,511

Commission Seat 4

Bandoni 2,663Fornino 2,642

Source: Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office

[Last modified January 30, 2008, 00:48:10]