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Native, newcomer battle for council seat
By JON WILSON © St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- Longtime city resident John Bryan and relative newcomer Craig Patrick are competing for the City Council District 2 seat. On the campaign trail, Bryan frequently mentions that he is a St. Petersburg native, while pointing out that Patrick has lived here three years. Patrick responds that he made a "deliberate decision" to move to St. Petersburg and says he can bring a fresh perspective to governing. Bryan won the primary election with 45 percent of the District 2 vote, but Patrick surprised many with a strong showing that won him 35 percent. Growth, quality of life and water management are the issues the candidates are emphasizing. Each supports regional water management. Patrick wants tough enforcement of watering restrictions and a graduated fee structure for households that use a lot of water. He supports strict emergency regulations the water management district proposed earlier this month. Bryan favors increasing the water supply through reservoirs and desalinization, and he wants St. Petersburg to be the leader in making sure those measures become reality. Bryan wants small, incremental growth. He says he would encourage it by making the city a better place to live through job development, more park opportunities for youngsters and sidewalks reserved for cyclists, skateboarders and joggers. Patrick wants clean, resource-efficient growth. He points to his Web site poll, which he says shows residents don't want large numbers of new residents, but want to maintain the existing high quality of life. Albert Whitted Airport should be an "economic driver," Bryan says. Expansion could create jobs for people in the Challenge area. Patrick believes the airport is a valuable resource but does not favor expansion unless it is minor and necessary for safety. Neither candidate favors curbside mailboxes. Education frequently has emerged as an issue during candidate forums. Patrick's view is that the city should help provide technical training, scholarship opportunities and continuing education for the existing work force. Bryan said he will push the mayor to provide a "constant presence" at School Board meetings -- and other boards such as the County Commission and the water management agency -- so the city's interests can be monitored. The jobMembers of St. Petersburg's eight-member City Council set city ordinances and control the appropriation of the city's approximately $450-million annual budget. They also set city tax and utility rates. The part-time job pays $23,337 per year. The elections for districts 2, 4 and 6 are for full, four-year terms. The elections in districts 1 and 5 are for the two years left on the current terms. All of the races will be on every ballot in the city. JOHN BRYAN, 50, is a retired home builder and commercial property manager. Bryan was born in St. Petersburg and attended schools here, including St. Petersburg Junior College. He served on the Environmental Development Commission for 11 years, including three as chairman. He was vice chairman of the city's budget review committee in 1984-85 and also has served on the Pinellas County construction licensing board and the Southern Growth Policies Board. He chaired the Northeast Exchange Club committee to help develop Coffee Pot Park in northeast St. Petersburg, was a member of the Suncoasters and is a volunteer mentor in the county school system. Bryan is married and has three children from a previous marriage, two of whom are adults.ASSETS: property in St. Petersburg, Hernando LIABILITIES: none SOURCE OF INCOME: commercial rental property CRAIG PATRICK, 28, is the public relations director for Hydrogen Media, an Internet business solutions company. A native of Alabama, he is a graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile. He has been a television news anchor and reporter for WTSP-Ch. 10 and stations in Savannah, Ga., and Birmingham, Ala. A three-year resident of St. Petersburg, Patrick is making his first bid for public office. Patrick works with the Tampa Bay Partnership on its transportation and international councils. He is a member of the Riviera Bay Civic Association, the Friends of Weedon Island and serves as an adviser or board member for several non-profit organizations, including the Juvenile Welfare Board, the Suncoast Boys and Girls Club and the South Pinellas Red Cross. He and fiance Susanna Alderson plan an April wedding. ASSETS: residence LIABILITIES: mortgage SOURCE OF INCOME: Hydrogen Media WEB SITE: http://www.craigpatrick.com
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
