2019 Pinellas County Municipal Elections: What You Should Know

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- Residents of six Pinellas County municipalities will have a chance to choose new mayors and city council members and approve charter referendums on Tuesday during municipal elections.

On March 12, registered voters in the City of Belleair Beach, City of Gulfport, City of Indian Rocks Beach, City of Madeira Beach, City of Oldsmar, City of Tarpon Springs and voters living in the Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District can vote in their respective nonpartisan elections.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling places for municipal elections may be different than those for county elections so voters are encouraged to confirm their polling places by visiting the Supervisor of Elections website and clicking on the “Find Your Precinct” button at the top of the page, or calling 727-464-VOTE (8683).

Voters should bring photo and signature identification to the polls to avoid delays. Anyone without valid and current ID may vote a provisional ballot.

Vote by mail ballots can be dropped off at any of the three Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections offices. They will not be accepting at polling places. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day (March 12).

The county mailed out 22,728 vote by mail ballots and, as of Monday, had received 10,590 ballots back, 19.47 percent of the eligible 54,395 voters.

Sample ballots may be viewed at VotePinellas.com.

Belleair Beach

City of Belleair Beach Mayor

Joseph A. Manzo

Leslie Notaro

Belleair Beach Council Member

Robyn Ache

Dave Gatis

Todd Harper

Steve Marsh

Rita Swope

Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District Referendum Question: Authorization to increase non-ad valorem assessment rates for delivery of fire protection and rescue services.

Yes

No

Indian Rocks Beach

City of Indian Rocks Beach Commissioner

Diane Flagg

Philip J. Hanna

John Pfanstiehl

Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District Referendum Question: Authorization to increase non-ad valorem assessment rates for delivery of fire protection and rescue services.

Yes

No

Oldsmar

City of Oldsmar Council Member Seat 1

Matt Clarke

Andrew Knapp

Linda Norris

City of Oldsmar Council Member Seat 4

Jerald "Jerry" Beverland

Katie Gannon

Referendum question: Economic development property tax exemptions for new businesses and expansion of existing businesses.

Yes

No

Gulfport

City of Gulfport Mayor

Frank J. Kemnetz

Sam Henderson

Gulfport Council Member Ward 2

Christine Brown

Byron E. Chalfont

Chrisan Herrod

Gulfport Council Member Ward 4

Michael Fridovich

Richard Fried

Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs Mayor

Chris Alahouzos

David O. Archie

Tarpon Springs Commissioner Seat 3

Connor Donovan

Susan Miccio-Kikta

Tarpon Springs Referendum Question: Allow economic development property tax exemptions for new businesses and expansions of existing businesses.

Yes

No

Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach Commissioner District 3

Doug Andrews

J. Roger Pryor

Madeira Beach Commissioner District 4

John E. Douthirt

Steve Kochick

Charter Amendment 1: Allow a simple majority of commissioners for most actions.

Charter Amendment 2: Establish three-year term limits for the mayor and commissioners.

Charter Amendment 3: Commissioner forfeits seat for violations of Sunshine Law, ethics laws and public records laws.

Charter Amendment 4: Commissioner forfeits seat if he or she fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings.

Charter Amendment 5: Adjust the district boundaries every five years.

Charter Amendment 6: Adopt state law for recall procedures.

Charter Amendment 7: Induction of new mayor and commissioners at the first regular or special meeting.

Charter Amendment 8: Add the city manager and remove the city treasurer from the list of charter officers.

Charter Amendment 9: Appoint a charter officer to investigate internal affairs of the city.

Charter Amendment 10: Replace the Board of Adjustment with a special magistrate.

Charter Amendment 11: Allow citizens petition initiatives to adopt or repeal ordinances.

Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District

Referendum question: Authorization to increase non-ad valorem assessment rates for delivery of fire protection and rescue services.

Beginning FY 2019/2020, shall Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District be authorized to increase its non-ad valorem annual assessment rates (set in 2008) as follows: Single Residential Unit from $260 to $360; Commercial Units: Up to 500 square feet from $286 to $386; Motel Units, Mobile Home Lots, Recreational Vehicle Lots (per rental unit/lot) from $165 to $265; with all other categories to be unchanged?

Yes

No

Check back with Patch for election night results.

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