It first became clear the race would be a close one when Petrila only barely emerged as the top fundraiser, with Tate trailing him by just $1,300 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n
Now, the two are showcasing their clashes of personality ahead of a tough battle at the ballot box next month.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a League of Women Voters candidate forum last week, Petrila came right out of the gate swinging, accusing Tate of having an arrest record, \u201charassing animals\u201d and facing two foreclosures.<\/p>\n
Tate, rather than responding to Petrila\u2019s accusations, answered the question that had been posed, choosing to focus on policy rather than personal attacks. Later though, Tate told The Gabber newspaper<\/a> that the accusations were all false.<\/p>\n A Gabber review of arrest and court records show there was an injunction briefly sought in 2009 against Tate over a domestic violence claim, but the case was dismissed for lack of evidence, there was no conviction and the case was closed the same day it was filed. The Gabber also found two mortgage foreclosure cases filed against Tate in 2010 and 2013, but both were later dismissed before a hearing. There were no criminal convictions uncovered and the Gabber didn\u2019t find any evidence of an animal cruelty case or bankruptcy.<\/p>\n Still, the tone was so contentious that moderators at the event had to intervene at least twice, reminding that \u201cinterruptions and personal attacks\u201d were prohibited in the forum rules to which both candidates agreed. Later in the forum, a moderator had to again remind candidates of the rules after an audience member interrupted as Petrila again began criticizing Tate.<\/p>\n The candidates are in the final month of campaigning ahead of the March 10 municipal election, and this isn\u2019t the first time the race has gotten heated. A resident video surfaced last month<\/a> raising questions about Petrila\u2019s access to the island after Hurricane Helene.<\/p>\n The day after the storm, on Sept. 26, 2024, residents were still blocked from returning to their homes to survey damage as crews worked to ensure it was safe to return. But Petrila, who weathered the storm from the island, was seen on video with workers already on hand performing work at his home. Petrila said the workers were allowed onto the island by the Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office to mitigate a gas leak at his home.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Seann-Frazier-Web-Ad-3-Florida-Politics-Final-scaled-e1770577555189.jpg\")
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