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Contenders Emerge For Spring Elections

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE and JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

The presidential election still is months away, as is balloting for state and county races. But Pasco County's voters won't have to wait until then to go to the polls.

Nine municipal posts will be up for grabs in the April 8 elections, from the top job in the county's most populous city to council seats in Port Richey, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Candidates across the county had until noon Tuesday to declare a run for local office.

In New Port Richey, the mayor's seat and one spot on the five-member council will be on the spring ballot, which will contain five names.

Former deputy mayor Bob Langford, former councilman Tom Finn, and political neophyte and lawyer Scott McPherson will be competing for outgoing Mayor Dan Tipton's gavel. He's planning to run for retiring Jed Pittman's seat as Pasco clerk of circuit court.

Langford, a 65-year-old audio-engineering consultant, has been heavily involved in city business in the past decade, serving on numerous committees and advisory boards.

He was first elected to the council in 2002 and re-elected in 2004. Two years later, Langford lost a bid to oust Tipton by only 33 votes.

Finn, 52, served three terms on the council before term limits forced him out in 2005. After waiting the required year, he ran again in April 2006 but lost that race.

McPherson, 43, is a New Port Richey native. His father, Jack B. McPherson, was one of the longest-serving city attorneys in New Port Richey's history during the late 1970s and '80s.

The candidate has a downtown law practice and has been heavily involved in the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, serving as chairman of the Chasco Fiesta Boat Parade from 2001 to 2006. He is next in line to become the chamber board's chairman this summer.

Three challengers also will be vying to replace Councilwoman Ginny Miller, who is planning to run for county commissioner in the Nov. 7 elections.

They are: Judy DeBella Thomas, 61, executive director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street; Glenn Hanff, 33, a member of the Community Service Council of West Pasco; and Susan Clark, 58, former city councilwoman and widow of David "Hap" Clark.

The top vote getter will win a one-year term on the council with a purse of $3,600.

Dredging Colors Campaigns

In Port Richey, three sitting council members face a challenge from two contenders in a hotly contested race that is being framed around the city's troubled dredging project.

Incumbents Dale Massad, Steve O'Neill and Nancy Britton will be on the ballot with Perry Bean and Phil Abts, both members of the city's Port Authority Committee, which has clashed with the council in recent months over numerous dredging delays and setbacks.

The top three vote getters will win two-year terms on the five-member council.

2 Seek Mayor's Job

In Dade City, the mayor and two city commission seats will be on the ballot this spring.

Mayor Hutch Brock is not seeking re-election. Jim Shive, 50, a former city employee who now works for Hernando County, and Curtis Beebe, 45, a technology consultant, are vying for his position.

Eunice M. Penix, 67, is seeking to keep her city commission spot. She was appointed in 1993 and subsequently re-elected unopposed until now. She's being challenged by Michael A. Agnello Sr., 47, owner of the Osceola Tavern.

Steve Van Gorden, 32, a middle school principal, also is running for re-election to the seat he has held since 2004. His opponent is Robert J. Avila, 53, a technology specialist for Ricoh Business Solutions.

The One And Only

In Zephyrhills, the mayor and two city council seats were up for election, but because few challengers emerged, voters will only be selecting one council member.

Mayor Cliff McDuffie and Councilman Luis Lopez will return to their seats unopposed. McDuffie, 73, will be entering his fourth term; Lopez, 45, his second.

City Councilwoman Celia Graham is not seeking re-election this year.

Four candidates have qualified to run for her seat: Michael Payne, 49, owner of Payne Pest Management Services; Sean Fernandez, 25, an underwriter for a secondary mortgage firm and a former Marine; Jodi Wilkeson, 47, owner of a Tampa-based interior architecture firm; and William Bob White, 84, a retired business owner.

Effortless Re-Elections

San Antonio and St. Leo won't have municipal elections this year.

Although there were six commission slots up for grabs in the east Pasco municipalities, no challengers stepped forward by Tuesday's deadline to file candidacy paperwork.

In San Antonio, incumbent Mayor Roy Pierce, Commissioner Will Plazewski, who was appointed in December to replace Haskell Christmas, and Richard Gates will return to their seats on the five-member commission. The two-year terms pay $50 annually.

Commissioner Dennis Phillips decided not to run for re-election this year. He served nearly a decade total on the commission: from April 1989 to December 1990; April 1993 until May 1995; and December 1999 until the present.

In St. Leo, three officials are automatically re-elected: Mayor James Hallett, who has served since 2000; and commissioners Donna DeWitt and Richard Christmas.

St. Leo's five board members serve two-year terms and receive no pay. In May, they will choose a new mayor and mayor pro tem.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com. Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at jgeary@tampatrib.com or (813) 779-4613.

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