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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Single-seat voting system best for all

Charter Question 1 on the Dunedin ballot Tuesday

There are times in the history of any city's charter that the citizens should get an opportunity to either change or reaffirm certain aspects of that charter.

I, along with two other commissioners, felt that the way we elect our city commissioners should be reviewed by our citizens, so we voted to simply allow the Dunedin citizens the right to choose.

In the end, regardless of the results, I am sure that Dunedin will get it right. But make no mistake, the proposed change will simply allow the four commission seats to be chosen in exactly the same way that we now elect our mayor.

Our charter should have few changes, but I believe there is nothing wrong with reviewing the way we do things in our city. In fact, we (a charter review committee and the City Commission) do review the charter every five years and that review can lead to recommendations for a vote by our citizens. The review and vote by our citizens, however, is the only action that can lead to charter changes.

The proposed single seat system of electing commissioners and the current system are used by different cities in our very own county. Cities like St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Tarpon Springs and even our very own county use some variation of the single seat system, so this charter change would create a system supported by a vast majority of citizens throughout Pinellas County.

Personally, I believe the proposed change ensures more accountability by each commissioner, since their voting record can be challenged directly by one or more citizens every three years. Remember, any election system favors an incumbent almost by definition and so any system that allows more scrutiny of an incumbent should be considered.

Scrutiny and accountability should not be confused with dirty politics. The latter is unacceptable, and the extent to which people engage in dirty politics is dependent on the people running and not on the system.

For any Dunedin citizens who have served as a commissioner or who have run for the seat and not been elected, I thank you for making our democracy work. As those of you who have run know, it is more difficult to wrestle a seat away from an incumbent than it is to run for a seat without a returning commissioner. Running against two sitting commissioners (as we do with the current system) would logically be that much more difficult.

However you vote Tuesday, I believe giving our citizens the right to choose whether or not to make changes to the charter is a good thing. I believe change and forward thinking can be a good thing. Voting for our commissioners exactly as we currently vote for our mayor is a good thing. I believe making each commissioner more accountable is a good thing. And finally, the one that gets the most votes and wins is a good thing. How unique.

Dave Eggers,Dunedin city commissioner

Firefighters reject city's latest offers Feb. 26

Give public safety workers their due

I read with great interest this article regarding Clearwater's firefighters. I have to wonder who the residents of Clearwater would rather have come to their aid in an emergency situation: the city manager, the human resource director or perhaps someone from the Communications Workers of America?

Our firefighters and police officers are vital to the safety and welfare of our city. City Manager Bill Horne stated, "Their raises and my raises are not related at all. You are talking about a city manager, a city resource manager and firefighters. You are talking about three types of employees. I don't know why they continue to make those comparisons." How arrogant! I personally think our firefighters and police officers deserve better. Those men and women put their lives on the line each and every day and I would hope they would be treated with the respect and wages they deserve.

Linda Busch,Clearwater

Glad to know honesty not lost

On Feb. 25, after emptying my shopping cart, I headed home and got as far as West Bay Drive and Indian Rocks Road when I realized I had left my purse in the cart at the Wal-Mart at Missouri Avenue and Rosery Road.

I headed back, knowing it was futile. I was heartsick, trying to remember the things in my purse, credit cards, checkbook, etc. I rushed up to the first cashier and said, "Please, help, I must see the manager," and she said, "Take a breath. Maybe I can help. What is your name?"

I told her and she told me to describe my purse, which I did, and she brought it to the counter and she handed it to me after checking the name in the wallet. The honest customer did not leave a name and the cashier said no to an offer of a tip and said, "That is not our policy."

I am too grateful to just let it pass. It warmed this forgetful old lady's heart to know there are still honest people in this world.

Sincere thanks to all involved.

Patricia F. Winston, Clearwater

Thanks to police for changing tire

A big thank you to officers L. LaFallette and A. Grandville of the Clearwater Police Department for helping us change the tire on our car, which had a blowout in the intersection of Belcher Road and State Road 60 on Saturday evening. They had us back on the road in no time.

Don and Marcia Kendra,Indian Rocks Beach

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified March 6, 2008, 22:07:24]