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Candidates To Debate In Safety Harbor

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: January 12, 2008

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - Let's get ready to rumble.

Candidates for City Commission plan to discuss their platforms and debate issues on Tuesday night during a special city- and Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum at City Hall.

Residents of Safety Harbor are interested in their local politics. This forum, which will take place 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, should bring out a lot of people who want to hear what the candidates have to say, Brad Purdy, city public communications manager.

The special January election, designed to piggyback on the statewide tax reform referendum vote, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Locally, two seats on the City Commission are up for re-election.

In one race, incumbent Nadine Nickeson faces political newcomer Mark Taylor. In the other, two political newcomers, Nina Bandoni and Robin Fornino, vie for the second open seat.

Mayor Andy Steingold and another political newcomer who ran for city commission, Mary Linda Williams, did not face opposition and automatically won a commission seat.

The League of Women voters will moderate the event.

On election day voters will also decide on two referendum issues.

The most discussed referendum question asks voters whether they want to increase homestead exemption and reduce property taxes.

In another decision, Beth Rawlins, chairwoman for Citizens for Pinellas Schools, said voters will also be asked to extend for another four years a special half-mill property tax to help pay for Pinellas County School District operating expenses.

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