Oldsmar voters pick leaders; Tarpon decides referendums

By DIANE STEINLE

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 14, 2000

Voters in two North Pinellas communities, Oldsmar and Tarpon Springs, will head to the polls today to make decisions that will affect their city governments.

In Oldsmar, two new City Council members will be chosen.

In Tarpon Springs, voters will consider 12 referendum questions that would amend the city charter, a set of laws that governs how the city operates.

In Oldsmar, Jerry Walters and Brian Michaels are running for Seat 1 on the City Council.

Walters, 64, is a retired electrician who served on the council from 1986 to 1988. He is a member of the city's Planning Board. Michaels, 41, a field service manager for a copier company, is chairman of the city's Neighborhood Parks Committee.

For Seat 3, Loretta Wyandt is opposing David Tilki.

Wyandt, 69, is a real estate broker/salesperson who served on the City Council from 1979 to 1981 and 1988 to 1990. Tilki, 46, recently retired from the Navy reserves and is a general contractor. He serves on the Planning Board.

The two seats on the council came open when current council members Babe Wright and Jerry Provenzano chose not to run for re-election.

Tarpon Springs voters face 12 referendum questions that require a yes or no vote. A yes vote will implement the change to the city charter, which can only be amended by voters.

The proposed changes range from eliminating term limits for city elective offices, to allowing the city to buy or sell land valued at up to $250,000 without a referendum, to adding a second alternate to the Board of Adjustment.

Because some of the questions are complicated, the city mailed an explanation of them to each household.

The questions on the ballot were proposed by a Charter Review Commission, a group of residents appointed every five years to review the city charter and decide whether voters might want to change the document.

All polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Voters must present a photo ID in addition to a signature ID when they go to vote. Those who want to see election results may check the Web site for the Supervisor of Elections Office. The address is http://www.co.pinellas.fl.us/soe.

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