Port Richey elects two new faces and one incumbent to City Council

By MATTHEW WAITE

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2000

PORT RICHEY -- After losing a 1998 race by seven votes, Tom Brown's second attempt at getting elected to Port Richey City Council went much better Tuesday.

Brown came out on top with 272 votes on the 373 ballots cast in the city's election. Next was Joe Menicola with 264, and the the lone incumbent, Patricia Guttman with 234. With three seats open, Phyllis Grae was left off the council by a margin of 10 votes.

In all, 20.3 percent of Port Richey's 1,842 voters came out to the polls and voted. By comparison, 559 voters turned out for the previous council election in 1998.

Brown said Tuesday night that he was "very appreciative" of the people who voted for him.

"I have always said I will do the best I can," he said, minutes after hearing the unofficial vote tally. "What's good for the city is the way it's going to be."

Council member Ron Barnett, who edged Brown out in 1998, and Council member Ann Lennon are stepping down. Mayor Eileen Ferdinand and Council member Bob Leggiere remain.

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

Menicola said he was elated that voters would give him the chance to serve. He said his door-to-door campaign is what propelled him to second place in the vote.

"That wins elections," he said. "I'm totally convinced."

Candidates said they have had a hard time finding a consistent major issue in the Port Richey race this election. After the current council on March 28 decided not to purchase the Lindrick Service Corp. utility for $19.5-million, a prominent issue on Port Richey voters' minds was gone.

Candidates said they have stuck to their proposals on zoning, code enforcement and the new Wal-Mart, to name a few, as they campaigned. But the lack of a hot-button issue had been expected to keep turnout low.

As candidates made a last-minute pitch to voters outside the Knights of Columbus Hall on Tuesday afternoon, they said voters had been coming in steadily. Their turnout estimates ranged from 400 to a wishful 600.

Brown, 64, has been a Port Richey resident for about three years. He has lived in Florida for 12 years and is a retired real estate developer who owns several properties in upstate New York.

Zoning and community development issues are key to him, Brown has said. He said he wants to encourage development, monitor taxes and fees, improve code enforcement and dredge the Pithlachascotee River.

Guttman, the current vice mayor, will serve her sixth term on the council. The 63-year-old has served on the council since 1990 and lived in Port Richey for 16 years. She is an office manager for Baillie Roofing and Construction in Holiday and owns several properties around New Port Richey.

Guttman said during the campaign that the issues left after Lindrick are the Wal-Mart project, the waterfront park and the new City Hall construction.

Menicola, 53, moved to Pasco County in 1983 and has lived in Port Richey for 13 years. He owns Ashley X-Ray Solutions, an X-ray supply company.

Menicola said that code enforcement was important to Port Richey's future. He said, if elected, he would like the council to review every ordinance in the city's code and update them if needed. Other issues that will be important are water, Wal-Mart, cleanliness and crime, Menicola said.

-- Staff writer Matthew Waite covers the city of Port Richey. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is waite@sptimes.com.

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