Voters in St. Pete Beach and Indian Rocks Beach decided to make a change at the top March 10 during Pinellas County municipal elections.
Those races were among the highlights of races for posts on city councils and commissions around the county.
Of the 58,059 registered voters, 15,222 cast their ballots for a 26.2% turnout.
Here’s a look at some of the races, including several along the gulf beaches.
St. Pete Beach
The race for mayor between incumbent Adrian Petrila and Police Pension Board member Scott Tate proved to be the most contentious of the county’s races. In fact, there was so much mudslinging that the League of Women Voters declined to post a replay of the candidate forum.
Ultimately, voters opted for a change.
Tate garnered 1,978 votes (66%), ousting Petrila, who received 1,019 (34%).
Tate told Tampa Bay Newspapers his priorities are realignment, resiliency and a return to a vibrant community.
A key issue in the race was a proposal to toll the barrier island’s access points by Petrila, who said the city needed new ideas in order to fund $200 million in infrastructure projects.
Tate was adamant in his opposition to the measure.
Instead, Tate said he would cut wasteful spending and pursue county, state and federal funding to improve the city’s financial health.
In the race for the District 3 seat on the commission, political newcomer Al Causey defeated incumbent Commissioner Betty Rzewnicki.
Causey received 460 votes (52%), defeating Rzewnicki who received 424.
Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach had three City Commission seats up for grabs March 10, including the mayor’s post.
In that race, former commissioner Lan Vaughan defeated incumbent Denise Houseberg to become the city’s next mayor.
Vaughan garnered 687 votes (68.15%) to beat Houseberg, who received 321.
Residents also chose two more new commissioners from a field of five candidates.
Kellee Watt received 625 votes (34.53%) and Janet Wilson collected 555 (30.66%).
The key issue in the city proved to be short-term rental regulations.
Vaughan is an outspoken proponent of the Homes Not Hotels group and has advocated for protecting the city’s neighborhoods by enforcing rental ordinances.
Other beach communities
• Madeira Beach will have a new commissioner representing District 2 after choosing Charles “Chuck” Dillon over incumbent Ray Kerr.
Dillon received 342 votes (64.5%) compared with Kerr’s 188.
• Redington Shores voters made their selection for the District 1 commission seat, selecting Douglas Harr with 100 votes (55.25%). Shawn Hatfield received 81.
• Indian Shores voters had two decisions to make for the Town Council. They selected Michael P. Howard with 193 votes (40.46%) and Ellen A. Bauer, who received 185 (38.78%). That left incumbent Michael A. Petruccelli on the outside looking in.
• Gulfport had two City Council races on the ballot.
For the Ward 1 seat, they chose Jennifer Daunch with 1,482 votes (54.17%) over Joe Guenther, who got 1,254.
For Ward 3, former state legislator Jennifer Webb received 1,908 votes (71.27%) to defeat Keri Nelson, who received 769.
North Pinellas races
The Tarpon Springs City Commission will have a new member after voters selected Planning and Zoning Board member Lori Weaver to fill Seat 2 on the board.
Weaver is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain and retired merchant marine officer.
She received 1,289 votes (45.52%), besting Va Celia Koumendouros (990 votes) and former commissioner Craig Lunt (553).
In a candidate forum, Weaver praised the current commission’s collaborative tone, contrasting it with “two years ago, when the board was rife with contention and mistrust.”
“We can’t go back to those years,” she said. “This is what compelled me to run in this election.”
Safety Harbor voters also had a decision for the commission after Carlos Diaz did not seek reelection.
They chose Kevin Shanks, who secured 1,831 votes (66.27%), over David Gallagher who received 932.
Shanks, who is married with two children, has lived in the city for a decade.
“As both a downtown business owner and a parent raising my 3- and 5-year-old kids here, I believe I’m uniquely positioned to help balance our small-town charm with a strong, thriving business community,” Shanks wrote on his campaign website. “I hold a degree in economics from the University of Illinois, and I’m ready to put that experience to work for our city. I’m running to help keep Safety Harbor a special place for generations, so my own grandchildren — and yours — can cherish it the way I always have.”
Mayor Joe Ayoub ran unopposed and will continue serving the city for an additional three-year term.
The results
Belleair Bluffs City Commision
Top two earn seats
Joe Barkley – 207 (37.91%)
Ana Hale – 147 (26.92%)
David Roberts – 192 (35.16%)
Vote Cast – 546
Gulfport City Council
Ward 1
Jennifer M. Daunch – 1,482 (54.17%)
Joe Guenther – 1,254 (45.83%)
Vote Cast – 2,736
Ward 3
Jennifer N. Webb – 1,908 (71.27%)
Keri Nelson – 769 (28.73%)
Vote Cast – 2,677
Indian Rocks Beach City Commission
Mayor
Lan Vaughan – 687 (68.15%)
Denise Houseberg – 321 (31.85%)
Vote Cast – 1,008
Commissioner
Top two earn seats
Kellee Watt – 625 (34.53%)
Janet Wilson – 555 (30.66%)
Michael Mirmanesh – 347 (19.17%)
Matthew Barrowclough – 159 (8.78%)
Don House – 124 (6.85%)
Vote Cast – 1,810
Indian Shores Town Council
Top two earn seats
Michael P. Howard – 193 (40.46%)
Ellen A. Bauer – 185 (38.78%)
Michael A. ‘Mike’ Petruccelli – 99 (20.75%)
Vote Cast – 477
Kenneth City City Council
Mayor
Robert Arrison – 342 (65.77%)
Bonnie A. Noble – 178 (34.23%)
Vote Cast – 520
Madeira Beach City Commission
District 2
Charles ‘Chuck’ Dillon – 342 (64.53%)
Ray Kerr – 188 (35.47%)
Vote Cast 530
Redington Shores Town Commission
District 1
Douglas Harr – 100 (55.25%)
Shawn Hatfield – 81 (44.75%)
Vote Cast – 181
Safety Harbor City Commission
Seat 4
Kevin Shanks – 1,831 (66.27%)
David Gallagher – 932 (33.73%)
Vote Cast – 2,763
St. Pete Beach
Mayor
Scott Tate – 1,978 (66%)
Adrian Petrila – 1,019 (34%)
Vote Cast – 2,997
District 3
Al Causey – 460 (52.04%)
Betty Rzewnicki – 424 (47.96%)
Vote Cast – 884
Tarpon Springs City Commission
Seat 2
Lori Weaver – 1,289 (45.52%)
Va Celia Koumendouros – 990 (34.96%)
Craig Lunt – 553 (19.53%)
Vote Cast – 2,832
Treasure Island
Charter Amendment
Yes – 864 (90.85%)
No – 87 (9.15%)
Vote Cast – 951
Voters selected Scott Tate, left, to be the new mayor of St. Pete Beach and Lan Vaughan to be the mayor of Indian Rocks Beach.