Bios for beach, South Pasadena races; fire fee details

Age: 46

Background: Johnson has lived in Indian

Rocks Beach since 1989, and his family has

lived here and/or owned property here since

the 1930s. He holds degrees in history and

political science from Rice University.

Johnson manages real estate properties and

has served on the City Commission since 2000. He is chairman of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. He has led the city's Beautification Board. He is or has been a member of Action 2000, the Civic Association, the Beach Art Center, the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Society (board of directors), Friends of the Library, the Indian Rocks Beach Executive Committee and the Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association. Johnson has led volunteer plantings of sea oats and other native beach vegetation since 1989.

Assets: Home at 1206 Beach Trail; real estate; investments.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of Income: Commercial property, real estate leases, investments.

incumbent

Age: 60

Background: Ockunzzi has lived in Indian

Rocks Beach since 1994 and moved to Florida

35 years ago. He is a graduate of Kent State

University and the University of South Florida.

Ockunzzi is a professional planner, Realtor and

owner of a bed-and-breakfast. He was first elected to the City Commission in 2003, served as vice mayor, was appointed mayor after the resignation of Bob DiNicola, and was elected mayor in 2006. He had served on the city Planning and Zoning Board and various committees of the Florida League of Cities, and was a director of the Suncoast League of Cities. Ockunzzi was executive director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council from 1981 to 1985 and served on the Pinellas County Charter Review Committee in 1992. He is a member of the Historical Society and Museum, Friends of the Library, Beach Art Center, Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association and Action 2000. He is married and has two children and one granddaughter.

Assets: Home at 2211 Gulf Blvd.; real estate; investments

Liabilities: None listed

Sources of Income: Ockunzzi & Associates, rental properties, investments

Age: 56

Background: House was born in North

Carolina, moved to Florida in 1967 and has

been a full time resident of Indian Rocks Beach

for four years. He and his family live in

a home that has been in his family since the

1960s. House earned a bachelor's in finance from the University of South Florida. He is self-employed and designs nightclubs and entertainment computer systems. House has served on the Indian Rocks Beach Planning and Zoning Board for two years, is currently vice chairman, and is seeking his first elected office. He is married and has two children.

Assets: Home at 2104 Beach Trail, real estate holdings in Pasco County.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of income: Design/build nightclubs and computer systems.

Age: 47

Background: Kennedy has lived in Indian

Rocks Beach for 23 years and is a Florida

native. She is a graduate of Largo High School,

St. Petersburg College and the New

London Academy of Design, and attended

Eckerd College's Pell Program. Kennedy owns and operates the Cookie Cutter Hair Salon. She served as an Indian Rocks Beach commissioner from 1999 to 2002. While on the commission, she was elected vice mayor and served on the National League of Cities' Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee and on the Florida League of Cities' Ethics, Personnel and Crime Prevention Committee. She led the Planning and Zoning Board and the Finance Budget Review Board and served on the Charter Review Committee. She served as president of the Beach Art Center (2004-2006) and on the boards of Coty Community Christian School and the Gulf Beaches YMCA. She was named the 2003 Civilian of the Year by the Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District, where she served on the Community Emergency Response Team. Kennedy is divorced and has a son.

Assets: Home at 408 Second St., real estate.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Sources of income: Cookie Cutter Hair Salon, rental income.

Age: 35

Background: Torres was born in Miami

Beach, has lived in Broward County and

Tallahassee, and moved to Indian Rocks

Beach in 1999. He earned a bachelor's degree from

Florida State University and owns Beachwater

Builders, specializing in designing homes. Torres is seeking his first elective office. He serves on the Indian Rocks Beach Beautification Board and is vice president of the Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association. Torres is married and has two children.

Assets: Home at 501 Janice Place, Beachwater Builders, investments.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Sources of income: Beachwater Builders contracting

business.

Age: 67

Background: Koske served as District 3 commissioner

for 5.5 years until he resigned over dissatisfaction

with commission policies and actions and

high blood pressure. While on the commission, he was

the liaison to the Planning Commission. He was born in

Chicago, grew up in Cary, Ill., and moved to Madeira Beach in 1977. He served three years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a special electrical devices repairman. He owned and operated a commercial fishing business, Jill-L Fishing, for more than 30 years. He owned a motel in Madeira Beach. He was a firefighter in Chicago for 14 years before he moved to Florida. He was first vice president of the Southern Offshore Fishing Association for 20 years. Koske was married for 31 years before his wife died in 1993, and he has two grown children.

Assets: Home at 706 Sunset Cove, investments.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Sources of income: Social Security, Army disability, investments.

Age: 74

Background: Shontz is a native of Pennsylvania and

has lived in Madeira Beach for 45 years. She owned and

operated the Apple Restaurant for 40 years, as well as two

restaurants in John's Pass Village, and is now retired.

Shontz served five terms as a city commissioner in the 1970s

and 1980s. She also served as a member of the city Planning Commission and the city Board of Adjustment. She is a past president of Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce and served for 30 years on the organization's board of directors. She was actively involved in development of the city marina, the city's parks and recreation center, the John's Pass Village boardwalk and the marine science center at Madeira Beach Middle School. Shontz was the first female Rotary Club president at both the local and state levels. She was involved in the implementation of the city's Meals On Wheels and Latch Key programs. She produced the historical booklet Madeira Beach in a Minute, served on the Tourist Development Council (now called the Visitors Bureau), initiated the first Christmas boat parade and led special events and bicentennial committees. She was recently elected co-chair of the library fundraising committee and is chairwoman of the Church By the Sea board of trustees. Shontz is married and has one daughter and three grandchildren.

Assets: Home at 15334 Harbor Drive, real estate holdings, investments.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of income: Social Security, investments, real estate income.

Age: 41

Background: Adams is a Pinellas County native and has

lived in Madeira Beach for 17 years. He worked in the

family shoe repair business until he was 20 and attended

Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg. He owns

a maintenance and repair business on the beaches.

Adams formerly served on the city Planning Commission and ran unsuccessfully for the City Commission in 2006. He is the president of the Barrier Islands Golf Tournament for Children.

Assets: Home at 350 Boca Ciega Drive

Liabilities: Mortgage, auto loan.

Sources of income: Owner of building maintenance and repair business.

Age: 51

Background: Lister is a native of Texas and moved to

Madeira Beach in 1982. He earned an associate's degree

in music from Richland College and is a certified Class B

contractor. He is now retired. Lister served in the U.S.

Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge. This

is his first try at elective office. He is half-owner of John's Pass Cottages and is a trustee and lay shepherd at the Church by the Sea. He is married and has one daughter.

Assets: Home at 338 Boca Ciega Drive, real estate, investments.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Sources of income: John's Pass Cottages.

incumbent

Age: 66

Background: Gayton, a native of

Philadelphia, has been a resident of

Treasure Island since 1973. He retired in

2000 after selling Photogene

Corp., an electronics and

manufacturing company that employed 250 people in St. Petersburg. Gayton is a member of the Isle of Palms Civic Association, the crime watch and code enforcement board. Gayton was elected to the Treasure Island Commission in 2004 and 2006 and is seeking his third term. While in office, he represented the city at the Suncoast League of Cities. He and his wife have raised two sons.

Assets: Home at 11285 Fifth St. E; real estate.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of income: Social Security and investments.

Age: 72

Background: Lunn has been a resident

of Treasure Island since 2005. He and

his family previously lived in Indiana. This

is his first attempt at public elective

office. He holds a bachelor's in electrical

engineering and a doctor of jurisprudence. Lunn is a retired patent attorney, builder, developer, contractor and manufacturer and is director of Florida franchise operations for Tucker/Florida LLC. He is the owner-broker of Lunn Realty Inc., doing business as F.C. Tucker/Gulf Beaches. Lunn is on the board of directors of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce and the Gulf Beaches Rotary Club. He is also a member of the Isle of Palms Homeowners Association, Friendship Community Church (formerly president and director), the Treasure Island American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Shrine Club. He is married and has one child and two stepchildren.

Assets: Home at 500 115th Ave., investments.

Liabilities: Mortgage.

Sources of income: Tucker/Florida LLC, F.C. Tucker/Gulf Beaches, Social Security.

incumbent

Age: 43

Background: Originally from Indiana,

Bildz moved to Treasure Island 12 years

ago from Pennsylvania. He has served as

the District 4 commissioner for two terms

and is seeking his third term in office.

While on the commission he has been a member of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the Suncoast League of Cities and the Florida Beaches and Shores Protection Association. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2000. Bildz was a member of the Beach Stewardship Committee, was a board member of the Sunset Beach Civic Association and is a member of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce. He works for Sunstar Plumbing Co. Before moving to Pinellas County, he worked in a meat factory and as a house painter. He and his wife live on Sunset Beach.

Assets: Homes at 131 94th Ave. and 48 79th Ter.

Liabilities: Mortgages.

Sources of income: Sunstar Plumbing Co., Treasure Island City Commission salary.

Age: 79

Background: A native of Long Island,

N.Y., Callahan has lived in Treasure

Island since 1972. A former University

of Tampa and Villanova University

professor, he has traveled extensively in

South and Central America and Mexico. He is an entrepreneur who promotes a solar-triggered electromagnetic pneumatic power plant. He ran unsuccessfully for commissioner four times, for mayor once and as a write-in candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. He describes himself as a philosopher, ecologist and entrepreneur.

Assets: Home at 114 90th Ave., savings.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of income: Social Security.

Age: 68

Background: Doney is a native of Illinois and moved to Florida in 1954. She is a graduate of

Northeast High and St. Petersburg Junior College and attended the University of South Florida. She

worked in private industry for 10 years and for the Social Security Administration for 24 years,

retiring in 1994 as Alaska state manager. Before retirement, she frequently vacationed at her

condominium in St. Pete Beach. Doney moved permanently to South Pasadena in 2003. This is her

first attempt at elective office. She served as president of a condominium association for five years, and for the last four years has been secretary or president of the Causeway Village Homeowners Association. She works part time for Destination Tampa Bay as a tour guide, and as a hearing reporter for the Social Security Administration. She owns a small business, Estate Sale Handlers.

Assets: Home at 1375 Pasadena Ave. S, No. 511; investments.

Liabilities: None.

Sources of income: Federal retirement, Destination Tampa Bay, Social Security, Estate Sale Handlers, savings.

Age: 47

Background: Peters is a native of Illinois and moved to South Pasadena in 1985 when she and

her husband purchased Captains Convenience Store. She earned a bachelor's

degree in human development from Eckerd College and works as financial development

director for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. She used to work for the Juvenile Welfare

Board. Peters, who is seeking her first elective office, has served on the advisory board of PTEC, is a

past secretary of Juvenile Justice Council, and is a member of St. Petersburg Rotary Club. She was nominated for the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Woman of Distinction Award, and in 2005 was named Princess of the Queen of Hearts Royal Court for outstanding community service. She has addressed Congress about a federally financed program she created to reduce the number of school referrals, suspensions, expulsions and arrests. Peters served for two years on the city Planning and Zoning Board, and served on South Pasadena Charter Review Committee. She is married and has four sons.

Assets: Home at 7032 S Shore Drive S.

Liabilities: None.

Sources of income: Salary from YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, Captains Convenience Store.

incumbent

Age: 66

Background: Sheldon was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Barrington, N.J. She has lived in

South Pasadena for 21 years and worked for NCNB, Fidelity Interstate

Insurance and, for the past 19 years, Brookwood Florida Central, a home for teenage girls. She

took art classes at the Hussian School of Art. She lives at the Le Chateaux Des Rois Condominium,

where she has been property manager and president of the homeowners association for

years. In 1998, she participated in a medical mission to Nicaragua, where she assisted a group of doctors and nurses. Sheldon has served two terms on the commission and is seeking her third term. She has served as commissioner of public safety, community improvement, and public works and finance. She is a member of the South Pasadena Civic Association. She is married and has a daughter.

Assets: Condominium, investments.

Liabilities: None listed.

Sources of income: Salary from Brookwood Florida Central, commissioner's salary.

Age: 60

Background: Finnerty

is a Vietnam veteran and former

golf pro who is currently

trading commodities and

helping his wife run her

business. He has served one term as a commissioner and has been vice mayor for the past year. While in office Finnerty has worked to bring pedestrian crosswalks and bus shelters to his district and championed the city's decision to hire a federal lobbyist. He is a voting member on the "Big C" beach communities' council and started the city's Support Our Troops program.

Assets: Stocks, mutual funds

Liabilities: Mortgages

Sources of income: St. Pete Beach Commission salary

Age: 44

A retired firefighter and

paramedic from Virginia,

Anderson moved to St. Pete

Beach in 2005 with his wife.

He was active in Citizens for

Responsible Growth's efforts to pass a the charter amendment allowing residents to vote on changes to the city's comprehensive plan, and he worked on the campaigns of Finnerty and Harry Metz. He has been a lobbyist at a state and federal level for the Virginia Professional Firefighters.

Assets: Stocks, brokerage account, savings plans

Liabilities: Mortgage

Sources of income: Arlington County retirement, mortgage holder, rental property, Anderson trust

Age: 58

Edney is a retired critical-care

nurse who has lived in St. Pete

Beach for four years. She has

spent time volunteering at Gulf

Beaches Elementary School and

is an associate of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Assets: Money market account

Liabilities: None listed

Sources of income: None listed

Age: 58

Ed Ruttencutter is a retired

engineer, originally from Ohio,

where he graduated from the

University of Akron. He has

served two consecutive terms

as commissioner in District 3 and prides himself with getting residents more involved in their city's government. Ruttencutter is also involved in the Belle Vista neighborhood association and has been a volunteer summer camp councilor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for 28 years.

Assets: Stocks, IRA, pension fund

Liabilities: Mortgage, Home equity loan

Sources of income: St. Pete Beach Commission salary

Age: 43

Leonard moved to

the city in 1997 and

works in real estate. He has a

degree from Columbus State

Community College in public

administration and law enforcement. He is on the city's planning board and is vice president of the Belle Vista Civic Association.

Assets: IRA

Liabilities: Mortgage, credit card

Sources of income: Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate

Age: 61

Halpern retired after

25 years at Lockheed Martin,

where he was a mechanical

aerospace engineer. He has

been a beach resident for seven

years with his wife. Halpern has been the president of the Captiva Cay Home­owners Association for two years.

Assets: Home

Liabilities: Mortgage

Sources of income: Lockheed Martin, mutual funds, Jean Halpern trust