Ballot is full in Port Richey, New Port Richey elections

Municipal elections in the neighboring cities will showcase a lot of newcomers.

By BETH GLENN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

Six candidates will compete for the New Port Richey mayor's post and a council seat in the April election while a single incumbent and four newcomers will vie for three seats on the Port Richey council.

By the time the weeklong qualifying for municipal elections ended at noon Tuesday, two incumbents already had bowed out of the Port Richey race.

Council member Ron Barnett decided not to seek re-election, and although council member Ann Lennon had indicated interest last week in running, she did not complete the qualifying process to seek her seat again.

Barnett, who has served two terms on the council, said he planned to change his address after the election to live on a Hudson farm with his parents. Barnett, who owns and operates Joshua's Landing marina, said he plans to sell the boat where he has been living and split his time between the marina and starting a horse breeding enterprise.

"For me to have another term would just be too sticky," Barnett said Tuesday. "I didn't want to go through all that hassle."

He also alluded to his problems as a teacher at Gulf High School last year, when for the second time in his tenure there, two girls accused him of making inappropriate comments, which precipitated an investigation. Barnett later resigned his post as an in-school suspension teacher.

"What with school and everything that happened there, I was ready to move on with another chapter of my life," Barnett said.

Lennon was out of the state Tuesday and could not be reached for comment about her decision not to run.

The Port Richey ballot will consist of Vice Mayor Patricia Guttman, Tom Brown, Phyllis Grae, Robert Ecochardt and Joseph Menicola.

Port Richey council members make $2,160 a year and serve two-year terms.

In New Port Richey, both Mayor Peter Altman and council member Frank Parker are barred from seeking their seats again because of term limits. But the race still has its share of familiar faces: Wendy Brenner and Ted Thomas, both mayoral candidates, have served on the City Council before. Bette Farmerie is the third mayoral candidate.

In the race for the council seat, perennial candidate Frank Janczlik continues his tradition of office seeking. His competitors will be Scott Chittum and Don Kirby.

New Port Richey council members serve for two years and make $3,600 each year. The mayor's post pays $4,200.

Municipal elections will be held April 11.

- Times staff writer Beth Glenn can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is glenn@sptimes.com.

West Pasco elections

Port Richey

COUNCIL CANDIDATES: Patricia Guttman, Joseph Menicola, Robert Ecochardt, Phyllis Grae, Tom Brown

New Port Richey

MAYORAL CANDIDATES: Wendy Brenner, Bette Farmerie, Ted Thomas

COUNCIL SEAT CANDIDATES: Scott Chittum, Frank Janczlik, Don Kirby

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