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Dunedin Elects Mayor, Commissioners

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: March 13, 2009

Updated:

DUNEDIN - After two terms on the City Commission Dave Eggers was elected mayor, Tuesday in a closely contested race that saw him garnering 51 percent of the vote.

Eggers defeated Deborah Kynes, who had served on the commission for 10 years.

Eggers replaces Bob Hackworth, who mounted an unsuccessful bid to oust U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, from the U.S. House seat Young has held since 1971.

In addition, three other City Commission seats were up for grabs.

On Wednesday, Eggers said of the 2009 mayoral contest, "Everyone thought it was going to be a really close race and it was."

"It is true that you really feel honored and humbled by the people's amazing support," the mayor-elect added.

Eggers said he plans to follow through on his campaign promise of seeking fiscal responsibility and cost containment as the City Commission plans next year's budget.

According to current estimates the city has to offset a possible revenue shortfall in fiscal 2010 of from $2.5 million to $3 million.

Infrastructure and environmental improvements were also part of Eggers' electoral platform, he said.

Eggers said he will make sure everyone feels comfortable while attending and speaking during City Commission meetings.

In the race for City Commission Seat 1, incumbent Julie Scales was returned to office for another three years with 68.5 percent of the vote over challenger Michael Quill, who polled 31.5 percent in his first election bid.

Two former commission candidates squared off in what turned out to be a hotly contested race for Seat 2. Ron Barnette won by 50 votes over challenger Tony Scruton.

Barnette, in effect, will serve the remaining two years of the 3-year term to which Kynes was elected in 2008.

Two political newcomers faced each other in the Seat 3 race.

David Carson won with 59 percent of the vote over challenger John Tornga, with 41 percent.

The city won't have a 2010 municipal election, unless in the interim someone leaves the commission before his or her term expires.

Commissioner Julie Ward Bujalski, like Barnette, has a term ending in 2011. The terms of Eggers, Scales and Carson don't end until 2012.

Following a change in the city charter voters endorsed in 2008, this was the first year in which candidates ran for specific City Commission seats.

Until now candidates ran citywide with, for example, the top two vote-getters being elected if two seats were on the ballot.

City Clerk Jerie Guegan said the estimated 27 percent turnout was good for a municipal election.

ELECTION RESULTS

MAYOR

Dave Eggers 3,574

Deborah Kynes 3,416

COMMISSION SEAT 1

Michael Quill 2,167

Julie Scales 4,712

COMMISSION SEAT 2

Ron Barnette 3,380

Tony Scruton 3,330

COMMISSION SEAT 3

David Carson 4,029

John Tornga 2,723

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com

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