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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 14, 2001
SOUTH PASADENA -- The City Commission on Tuesday rejected a challenge to the mayoral candidacy of incumbent Fred Held.
The challenge had been mounted by former Commissioner Alan Friend, who argued that Held will have already served his term limit by the March 6 election.
A section of the City Charter cited by both sides limits mayors and commissioners to "three consecutive, full or partial elected terms."
Held was elected to three-year mayoral terms in 1995 and 1998. The controversy hinges on the partial term he served from March 1994 to March 1995, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of then-Mayor Barbara Gilberg.
Friends and several local residents say that year constitutes a partial elected term.
City Attorney Linda Hallas replied that because commissioners, and not the general public, installed Held in 1994, his first year as mayor came about by appointment rather than by election.
The commission agreed by a 4-0 vote.