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Graham Will Not Seek Re-Election In Zephyrhills

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - City Councilwoman Celia Graham, who served during one of the most turbulent political times in Zephyrhills history, will not seek re-election, she said Tuesday.

She and her husband, Patrick, have started an alpaca farm and want to devote more time to that endeavor, she said.

"It has nothing to do with anything other than us doing our business," she said. "I've enjoyed being involved in the community."

Graham, 47, a teacher at West Zephyrhills Elementary School, cast a "yes" vote in 2003 to rename Sixth Avenue to honor slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The move caused an uproar and protesters packed city hall, complaining that they weren't informed of the change and that their property values would decline. Allegations of racism surfaced.

After the next election, with new faces on the dais, the council voted to change the name back to Sixth Avenue, a move that again drew protest, this time from the area's black community. Zephyrhills made the front page of The New York Times. Graham voted against changing the name back, but was outnumbered by her colleagues who were in favor of reversing the street name to Sixth Avenue.

In 2005, she lost her re-election bid to then-18-year-old Danny Burgess, who campaigned on the premise that the original name change from Sixth Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue wasn't done according to city laws. Graham's loss was seen largely as the result of her stance on the street name issue.

She recaptured a spot on the council in 2006, running against a political newcomer. She captured 66 percent of the vote.

Tuesday, she said she said she didn't regret the decision to vote in favor of honoring King.

"Not at all," she said. "I did what I thought was right. I guess other people did what they thought was right."

All told, Graham has served four years on the council, from 2003 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2008.

Her decision not to run again leaves her council seat open. No one has filed paperwork to fill it.

One other councilman, Luis Lopez, is up for re-election this year. He has expressed a desire to run again, as has Mayor Cliff McDuffie.

Municipal elections will be held April 8.

Candidates must pick up a petition form at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St., by Feb. 12 and submit final paperwork by noon Feb. 19.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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