Newcomer seeks county post

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 10, 2000

Paul H. Weekley, commander of Hernando County Amvets Post 28, on Thursday became the second Democrat to challenge Pat Novy for the County Commission District 1 seat.

"I never really wanted to get into politics. But sitting out here in Garden Grove, we really don't have any representation," said Weekley, 57, who moved to Hernando County 10 years ago from Ohio.

More than running against Novy, a Democrat, Weekley said he wanted to run for the job, which pays $44,376 a year. And he pledged to serve as an elected official, "not a politician."

One area he wanted to work on is services for military veterans.

"I would like to see the clinic grow so we don't have to take the disabled veterans to Tampa for prescriptions," Weekley said. "We are staffed. We're just not staffed to where we need to be."

Weekley also is quartermaster of the state Amvets organization, a board member of the Hernando Exotic Birds Club and a member of the Jaycees. He lives in Brooksville with his wife, Melanie, who also is his campaign treasurer.

Other candidates who have filed to seek the District 1 seat are, on the Democratic ticket, Novy and Mary E. "Betty" Whitehouse and, on the Republican ballot, Martha Jane "Janey" Baldwin, Anna Liisa Covell and Joseph Johnston III. The primary is Sept. 5. The winners will face off in the general election Nov. 7.

Qualifying dates for all county elections are July 17 through July 21.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.