INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The town's mayoral election March 15 is a race one candidate sees as a validation of his record and that the other sees as time for a change.
Mayor R.B. Johnson is seeking his sixth term as mayor, while former Commissioner Bert Valery is hoping to unseat him, arguing that the city needs new blood and new ideas.
"I think I still have something to contribute to the city," Johnson said Monday. "I believe I have been a good steward of the city, and I hope people feel the same way."
Johnson, who previously was elected without opposition, points to his efforts to return the city to financial stability and helping to preserve the city's "small town charm."
He lists among his proudest accomplishments as mayor: shepherding the utility undergrounding project to fruition in the coming year; securing $900,000 in oil spill funds that were spent to upgrade city infrastructure; and securing voter approval to move the city's solid waste operation off the island, which will allow the property next to Keegan Clair Park to be redeveloped for community activities and parking.
Valery says it is time for a change and that Johnson has been running the city for too long.
"RB is a good guy, but he has been mayor too long. If I am elected, I will push for some kind of term limit to allow other citizens a chance to serve," Valery said Tuesday.
While Valery served on the commission from 2007 to 2009, he advocated for allowing golf carts on city streets, changes to paper rack zoning, and replacing the city attorney, finance director and city manager.
If elected mayor, Valery said he will work to keep a "friendly small town image" while encouraging reasonable business and condominium development as recommended in the town's University of South Florida visioning plan. He wants to consider commercial and retail development on the west side of Gulf Boulevard and a parking garage in the Triangle business district.
Meanwhile, there will be no commission election since Jeremiah Carmody withdrew his candidacy earlier this month for personal reasons. Incumbent Joanne "Cookie" Kennedy and newcomer Edward Hoofnagle will automatically serve in the two open seats.
R.B. Johnson
Johnson, 54, has lived in Indian Rocks beach for 24 years and works in real estate management. He holds bachelor's degrees in history and political science. Johnson was first elected to the commission in 2000, serving until 2008, when he was elected as mayor. During his civic career, he has served on the PSTA board of directors, including as chairman, on the city's Beautification Board, as vice president and president of the Pinellas County Mayors' Council, and a board member of the Tourist Development Council. He also is a member of the Beach Art Center, the IRB Historical Society, Friends of the Library and IRB Action 2000. He is single.
Bert Valery
Valery, 75, has lived in the city for 36 years and works in insurance sales. He served as the first president of Action 2000, and on the city's Board of Appeals and the Planning and Zoning Board, as well as facility chairman of the Pinellas County MPO Bicycle Advisory Committee. He is the founder, past chairman and board member of Pinellas Trails Inc., an organization that helped create the county bicycle trail system and now focuses on adding amenities through in-kind contributions of volunteer time and donations. For the past 30 years, Valery has led and worked on charitable fundraising events, including triathlon, biathlon and other road races in Indian Rocks Beach and Pinellas County. He also is active in the Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association and the Historical Society. He is a graduate of Villanova University, is married and has two grown children.