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Dredging Woes Inspire Council Bid

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

PORT RICHEY - In this city of turbulent politics and personalities, every election seems to have its defining issue; something that prompts average citizens to run for public office.

The past two elections were about dissolution, as candidates backed by denizens on either side of the volatile issue campaigned for or against keeping the city government.

That matter was put to rest, for the most part, by the voters, who in a nonbinding referendum in April indicated by more than 55 percent that Port Richey should stay a municipality.

This year, however, the hot-button issue is dredging.

It's what motivated Perry Bean, a former manufacturing firm executive and stay-at-home dad, to run for one of three city council seats up for grabs in the April 8 elections.

A Personal Stake In Issue

Bean, 42, is one of a growing number of residents who have become increasingly frustrated with the city's handling of the multimillion-dollar project to dredge miles of silt-clogged canals and other waterways degraded by pollution and years of neglect.

"This project has been mismanaged from the outset," Bean said. "We deserve better."

A Georgia native, Bean moved to this waterfront community with his wife and three children about four years ago, after stepping down from a position as a managing partner in a firm that supplied electronic security equipment for the military and law enforcement.

Bean has a personal stake in the dredging. He lives across from one of the 28 canals the city has been seeking dredge permits for from state and federal regulators.

The permitting process has dragged on for more than a decade as those regulators and Port Richey officials have wrangled over the environmental effects of the project.

Despite rosy projections from city officials about the status of the dredging, Bean said the regulatory process has been "bungled" by a "lack of leadership."

"It doesn't seem like we're any closer to getting this project moving," he said.

Although he has never held an elected office, Bean has served on the city's Port Authority Committee and recently was appointed to a special selection committee tasked with interviewing candidates to replace the city's dredging consultant firm, LPA Group.

He's outlined his political platform on a campaign Web site, www.electperry.com, and plans to go door-to-door gathering enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Pursuing 'Common Sense'

Although the dredging project is a central issue of his campaign, Bean also wants to reduce the property tax burden on residents, and encourage new construction and citywide redevelopment.

Overall, he thinks the current leadership lacks a vision for the city.

"We're suffering from apathy," Bean said. "I want to bring common sense back to the city."

Vice Mayor Nancy Britton and council members Dale Massad and Steve O'Neill are expected to seek re-election this year. The three candidates who get the most votes will win the jobs.

The qualifying period for the April 8 elections begins at noon Tuesday and ends Feb. 19. Potential candidates can pick up a qualifying packet at city hall on 6333 Ridge Road.

As of Thursday, no other hopefuls for the council races had stepped forward.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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