TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Former Marine Makes Council Bid

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - Sean Fernandez, a Wesley Chapel native who served in the Marine Corps, has filed preliminary paperwork to run for the Zephyrhills City Council.

He plans to run against fellow political newcomer Michael Payne, 49, an exterminator who lives downtown.

Both men are vying for the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Celia Graham, who said last week that she will not seek re-election.

Fernandez, 25, is an underwriter for a secondary mortgage firm and a volunteer at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He grew up with City Councilman Danny Burgess and was inspired to give politics a shot when he saw his childhood friend win elections here twice, he said.

"It really kind of spurred me on," he said.

With tough economic times on the horizon, Fernandez said, his top goal, if elected, would be to rein in city spending.

He also would like to continue the city's streetscape projects, which have included installing decorative lamps and brick pavers on downtown streets, and perhaps extend the project to parts of U.S. 301. If the city needed to spend money elsewhere, though, that project would have to be put on the back burner, he said.

"We need to conserve as much money as possible at the moment," he said.

Fernandez is married and has an 18-month-old son.

He joined the Marines after high school, serving in Kuwait from January 2003 to May of that year, unloading ships returning from the front lines of the Iraq war effort.

So far, the Fernandez-Payne contest is the only contested race this year. Councilman Luis Lopez plans to run for re-election, and no one has filed paperwork to challenge him. Mayor Cliff McDuffie has not drawn an opponent yet, either.

Candidates for office must pick up paperwork from Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St., this week and return completed forms by noon Tuesday. The election is April 8.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT