Brenia sets his sights on commission

By ALISA ULFERTS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2000

Alan Brenia stepped down from the Zephyrhills City Council earlier this year because he and his wife wanted to build a home outside the city limits.

Now, the 41-year-old pharmacist is the third candidate to enter the race for District 1 of the County Commission, a seat currently held by Commissioner Sylvia Young.

Brenia joins fellow Republican Rod Neal and Democrat Pat Burke in the race. Young has not yet filed to run for re-election.

Brenia said he plans to bring the expertise he gained while on the City Council to the county.

"I've had a lot of public support. A lot of people have asked me to run," Brenia said.

A pharmacist at East Pasco Medical Center, Brenia spent eight years on the City Council. He recently served two years as chairman of the county's Metropolitan Planning Organization.

He said he is most proud of helping to turn around the city's municipal airport, which for years had been mired in debt and lawsuits.

Last year, for the first time, the airport turned a profit. And with recent improvements to the runways and lights and the installation of above-ground fuel tanks, the future looks bright for the airport, Brenia said.

"We took the airport . . . and turned it around," Brenia said.

Brenia, who is married and has a 9-year-old daughter, said he also is proud of the infrastructure improvements he has helped bring to the city and plans to focus on planning issues if elected to the County Commission. He also said the county needs to actively search for sources of water.

"There's no question that Pasco is being pumped dry," Brenia said.

"All alternatives have to be looked at."

-- Information from Times files was used in this report.

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