Zephyrhills mayor walks away happy

After 10 years as Zephyrhills mayor, W. Cliff McDuffie, 77, is just tired and, being a straightforward Scot, he did something about it. He wrote his letter of resignation, dropped it off at the city manager's office, packed up his wife, Joyce, and went on vacation.

The resignation came as a bit of a surprise since just a few weeks ago he was soliciting signatures for his nomination petition, which is preparatory to a run for another term. But, in his resignation letter, he said it dawned on him while driving back from Tampa that he had come to Zephyrhills 17 years ago to start a new life, but then found himself "right back where I was then."

He lamented, "Too many meetings with too little accomplished. So politics is certainly not the place for me anymore. I am tired! I am walking away feeling good about what I have done and have few regrets."

His abrupt departure saddened at least two of his fellow elected officials.

Jodi Wilkeson, council chairperson, said, "I was surprised and disappointed. I think it just dawned on him one day that he doesn't have time to enjoy what's left of his life. … It's been 10 years now."

Councilman Charlie Proctor said, "We're going to miss him; it'll be hard to fill his shoes. Who knows where it will go, a lot of people want to get rid of the position."

Councilman Kenneth Compton echoes Proctor, saying, "He will be missed."

Proctor may have been thinking back to 2005, when the city's charter was revised and the Charter Study Commission recommended eliminating the mayor position. The council at that time, however, ignored the recommendation and the question never made it to a referendum vote.

The commission thought eliminating the position would save the city the $4,800 mayor's salary and the honorary title could be passed among city council members.

Proctor wondered, given the precarious nature of the city's finances, if now wasn't the time for another charter study with an eye toward abolishing the position.

However, two candidates already have jumped into the race for the job — Steve Van Gorden, principal of Zephyrhills High School; and Michael Payne, operator of a pest control business and a former member of the city's planning commission.

The election is April 10 and the mayor serves a two-year term.

In the final paragraphs of McDuffie's letter, he thanked the community for its support, wished the best for the community and then reminded everyone "those fishing poles await me."