Detours: a country in search of direction
On the eve of the election, a reporter and photographer set out for Washington, via America. We tell stories from seven towns, touching on seven issues from politics and real life.
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Game show themes
These themes are probably going to make some of you have flashbacks to wasted mornings or afternoons spent sprawled in front of the TV.
Qualifying for Largo's upcoming City Commission election began at 8 a.m. Tuesday and already two current commissioners have launched their re-election campaigns.
They are Commissioner Mary Gray Black and Commissioner Robert Murray, who was appointed to former Vice Mayor Andy Guyette's seat when Guyette announced two months ago that he was taking a job in Huntsville, Ala.
Murray, 53, a senior flight mechanic for the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, has lived in Largo for 30 years. He has served on the city's neighborhood advisory committee, the finance advisory board and the citizens' advisory committee for the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
He has also religiously attended commission meetings and work sessions for the past three years.
"This is a natural extension of what I've (been) doing with the city,'' Murray said.
If elected, he wants to "get the city through the Amendment 1 situation'' and maintain the quality of services the city has historically provided.
Florida voters in January approved Amendment 1, which gave homeowners tax breaks and placed new limits on local governments.
Black could not be reached for comment.
Two other people have announced their intentions to run for Black's seat.
Milagros (Millie) M. Cortez, 62, a retired benefits coordinator for Largo, said she will run for election. The 21-year city employee retired May 1 and immediately started making plans to become a candidate.
She has owned a home in Largo since 1982 and was a single mother. Her daughter, Heather Graves, 32, is Largo's communications and marketing manager.
If elected, Cortez wants to help other single parents.
"I think it's important to recognize the need ... to assure the public that services are available to them,'' she said.
Cortez said she's looking forward to the race.
"I'm going to give (Commissioner Black) a run for her money,'' said Cortez.
Largo business owner Joseph Falanga, 52, said he is "strongly considering'' running for Black's position.
The owner of PakMail on Ulmerton Road, he said he's "trying to make the city more business friendly.''
He has served on the city's Planning Board and spent a year as chairman of the Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce.
Qualifying ends at 5 p.m. Aug. 1. The election is Nov. 4.
"This will be our second November election and the first to be held in conjunction with a presidential election,'' said City Clerk Diane Bruner.
Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4153.
>>Fast facts
City commissioners
• Commissioners serve three-year terms.
• There are no term limits.
• They are paid $12,620.63 annually.
• They receive benefits such as health insurance.
About the election
• Qualifying ends at 5 p.m. Aug. 1.
• The election is Nov. 4, the same day as the national election.
[Last modified: Jun 03, 2008 08:18 PM]
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