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City elections rouse little competition
By MAUREEN BYRNE © St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001 SEMINOLE -- In case you didn't know, there is an election around the corner. And from the looks of it, it won't be much of one. Only one person has qualified to run against four incumbents -- three council members and the mayor -- seeking re-election on March 6. The qualifying period ends at 4 p.m. Friday. But this shouldn't surprise anyone. Seminole isn't exactly a hotbed of political activism. Last year, there was no opposition for the incumbents. In 1999, no one ran against three council members, and one person opposed the mayor. Two candidates opposed three council members in 1998, and there was no election in 1997 because there was no opposition. And so it goes. "There is a large turnout when there is a lot of controversy," said Paul Trexler, 54, who is seeking his fifth term on the City Council. "And right now, there isn't any controversy." "When there is a definite concern in the way the city is being run, a lot of people will come out," said Pat Hartstein, 53, who has served on the council since 1995. "Otherwise, it shows to me that things are okay the way they are." Who really knows whether it's a case of apathy or contentment? Newcomer Leo Mutchler said he is challenging council members Trexler, Hartstein and Pete Bengston because he believes he can offer a fresh perspective to city government. "I'm not running against anyone," Mutchler said, adding that he wasn't dissatisfied with the city's current state of affairs. He said he simply wants to be a part of the action. "I'm a bit of a political junkie," said Mutchler, 62, who retired from Racine, Wis., to Seminole in 1998. "I enjoy community service on the political level." In October, Mutchler, who owned an insurance agency in Racine, joined six other residents who sought an appointment to the seat vacated by Penny Rasmussen. Bengston, 66, won the majority of votes from the council. Mutchler said he likes the city's declining tax rates, relaxed annexation policy and firm stand against the countywide library cooperative funding the East Lake Library. The incumbents agree that a fresh face on the council is a good thing. After all, this is a democracy. But now might not be the best time, they say. All four incumbents say they are seeking re-election because they want to continue monitoring major projects that were initiated under their watch, including the $6.1-million renovation and addition of the recreation center, a $6.8-million joint-use library with St. Petersburg Junior College and the $800,000 refurbishment of City Hall Park. "There are some projects that we started that I would like to follow through until completion," Hartstein said. "I just want to be there to help guide the process." All six City Council members are elected at large for two-year terms. The salary is $5,400 a year. Mayor Dottie Reeder said that, though she encourages competition in the political arena, she is relieved no challengers have come forward yet. She won her race in 1999 with a narrow victory over a candidate backed by the firefighters union. If she wins this election, she will begin her 13th year on the council and her seventh year as mayor. This year marks the first year the mayoral seat will begin three-year terms. The annual salary is $9,200. "I think the next election will be busy," Reeder, 51, said. "I suspect that they're going to want to be involved." Reeder was referring to residents of the newly annexed areas. About 4,000 people joined the city in June 2000 and about 1,500 joined last week. "It is a great time to be a part of the city," she said. "Everybody is looking to our city with all the accomplishments we've been making." That's what prompted Bengston to seek the appointment to Rasmussen's seat. "I think it's going great," said Bengston, who worked part-time as the city's annexation coordinator before joining the council. "I love it. I managed to join a winning team." To qualify for the election, candidates must have been residents of Seminole for a year. They must pay a $15 fee and either get 40 signatures on petition cards from Seminole registered voters or pay a $100 filing fee. Papers can be picked up at City Hall, 7464 Ridge Road, during regular business hours. For more information about the election process, contact city clerk Lynne Keane at 391-0204.
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