fRegistered Republican and Democratic voters may vote for one of their own party’s candidates in the Republican or Democratic Party Primary for President.
Voter Registration & Political Party Affiliation Choice Deadline: February 16, 2016
Early Voting: Saturday, March 5 – Sunday, March 13, Mon-Fri 10 am – 6 pm, Sat-Sun 9 am – 5 pm
Election Service Center – 13001 Starkey Rd., Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo, 33773 County Building – 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 33701. Voters can go to any early voting site. In order to vote a regular ballot, voters are required to present both picture and signature identification. Voters who do not bring both types of ID will be required to vote a provisional ballot.
Republicans pick 1 from a long list: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, John R. Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, Donald J. Trump
Democrats choose from Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders
Municipal Offices In GULFPORT, incumbent Mayor Sam Henderson is challenged by Barbara Banno, former council member and owner of the popular Beach Blvd. restaurant, Stella’s. In Ward 1, incumbent council member Dan Liedtke is being faced by April Thanos. A Seattle transplant, Thanos worked for most of a career at Mearsk Lines, the world’s largest shipping company, was previously active in Greater Seattle’s Chamber of Commerce and Business Association and recently with the Greater Gulfport Chamber of Commerce.
MADEIRA BEACH
Super Majority Vote Required for Sale of Real Property. Shall the City Charter, pursuant to Ordinance 2015-06, be amended to require a super majority vote by the Board of Commissioners prior to the sale of any real property possessed by the City and a simple majority vote prior to the conveyance of public utility easements?
SOUTH PASADENA
Choose incumbent Mayor Dan Calabria or challenger, Commissioner Max V. Elson, a Kansas native who retired to consultancy from ownership of Fancy’s Specialty Market on 4th Street in St. Petersburg 18 years ago. A Rotarian and volunteer for Abilities, he ran for commission to bring some business sense to the board.
ST. PETE BEACH
Commissioner District 1 Incumbent commissioner Terri Finnerty once again faces her predecessor, Lorraine Huhn, who headed the push for comprehensive plan that has just been implemented. Commissioner District 3. One of the city’s best loved Mayors & Commissioners Ward J. Friszolowski, comes out of political retirement to face the city leadership’s 2nd most vocal critic, Deborah Schechner.
CHARTER AMENDMENT – Increase Compensation for City Commissioners & Mayor Charter Section 3.04 sets compensation for City Commissioners at $400 per month and compensation for the Mayor-Commissioner at $600.00 per month, in addition to reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with performing official duties and the monthly sum for ordinary expenses. Shall the Charter be amended to provide an increase in compensation for City Commissioners to $800/month and an increase in compensation for the Mayor- to $1,600/ per month? Editor’s note – Even with the raise it is unlikely the charter amendment is what made Ward run once again. “These are exciting times and it would be good to have a knowledgeable architect on the commission for library and prospective hotel design reviews.”
TREASURE ISLAND
City Commissioner District 4 Alan Bildz Incumbent, Challenger Sunset Beach resident and marketer of medical equipment to the military, Ken Keys. A Texas Tech University graduate, Ken worked for Quaker State Corp., Patient Care Systems, Inc., and RecoverCare LLC, before becoming Managing General Partner of Therapy Beds Direct, LLC.
Tim Ramsburger, who was unopposed as commissioner for the north most district in Treasure Island, resigned from his elected office two weeks before the local election. To fill the vacancy a commissioner is selected by the others from qualified candidates who volunteer to serve. The mayor has the deciding vote if the commissioners tie.