Seat 3 contest stays friendly

Two candidates for the Tarpon Springs City Commission even swap compliments.

By KATHERINE GAZELLA

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 13, 2001

TARPON SPRINGS -- The race for Tarpon Springs City Commission Seat 3 has been an exercise in politeness.

Candidates Karen Brayboy, 44, and Spanos Harding, 37, have refrained from personal attacks and even have complimented each other at times.

"The only thing I've been able to find about this gentleman that I don't like is that he is substantially younger than I am," Brayboy said at a recent candidate forum.

"My opponent is Karen Brayboy -- wonderful lady," Harding responded.

The two candidates are competing to fill an open seat held by David Archie, who is leaving office because of term limits.

Brayboy served on the City Commission from 1994 to 1999 and left because of term limits. She operates investment and employee benefit companies in Tarpon Springs.

She said she stepped into the race for Seat 3 to bring her financial expertise to the City Commission. She said the commission is trying to accomplish too many projects too quickly.

"I think it is time for us as a city to step back and take a breather," she said.

Throughout the campaign, she has promoted expanding the sewer system and moving away from septic tanks. She also favors expansion of the reclaimed water system in the city so it covers more residents.

She said the city should proceed cautiously with the proposed downtown redevelopment plan and should ensure that residents have a say in the project.

Brayboy said she would focus on the details of city finances as she has in the past.

"I don't expect that my service to you will be any different than my service to you in the past," she said.

Harding previously ran for City Commission in 1989 and lost a race for mayor in 1998. The Tarpon Springs native runs a propane gas business and a drywall and steel-framing business.

He said he would concentrate on informing residents about the city's actions, possibly by putting information in monthly bills. He also would be interested in continued infrastructure improvements throughout the city, including road and sidewalk repairs.

Harding, who has two young children, said the city should provide more activities for families. He said ball fields and playgrounds are a constant need, and the city should try to build such facilities before existing fields reach capacity.

"I don't want to always be playing catch-up," he said.

Like his opponent, he supports the expansion of reclaimed water services.

"It shouldn't be for just a few," he said.

He said he supports much of the downtown redevelopment plan, and he said the city should make sure all residents are informed about it.

He said that in general, the city is "on a good path."

Both candidates say that annexation should be voluntary and should only occur when the city can provide adequate services to annexed residents.

The election will be held March 20.

- Staff writer Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or gazella@sptimes.com.

The job

Commissioners serve three-year terms and receive $8,000 a year.

The candidates

Karen Brayboy

Age: 44

Background: Brayboy was born in Raleigh, N.C., and grew up in Plant City. She has a degree in special education from East Carolina University. She operates investment and employee benefits companies in Tarpon Springs. She is a member of the Whole Child Board and the steering committee for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, and she is the chair of the Rotary Youth Trust Fund. She previously served on the City Commission from 1994 to 1999 and left because of term limits. She is married and has a grown son.

Assets: Home, condominium, businesses, profit-sharing account, personal investments.

Liabilities: Mortgages.

Income: Operation of two companies.

Spanos Harding

Age: 37

Background: Harding was born in Tarpon Springs and graduated from Tarpon Springs High School. He runs a propane gas business and a drywall and steel-framing company. He made unsuccessful runs for the City Commission in 1989 and for mayor in 1998. He is a member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He is married and has two young children.

Assets: House, stocks, bank account.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Income: Ownership of Harding & Co. Enterprises.

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