Advertisement

Electrician, not famed author, Faulkner announces candidacy

 
Published Aug. 6, 1999|Updated Sept. 29, 2005

William Faulkner Jr. is no relation to the award-winning author, but he wants to be the next District 5 county commissioner.

If winning an election is about name recognition, than the newest Republican candidate for District 5 of the County Commission should have little problem.

Port Richey resident William C. Faulkner Jr., 53 and no relation to the Nobel Prize-winning author, announced his candidacy Thursday for the commission seat currently held by Democrat David "Hap" Clark. Faulkner is the third Republican to mount a challenge against Clark.

Faulkner, who goes by "Bill," and his wife, Valerie, have lived in New Port Richey since 1973. Together they run Faulkner Electric Inc.

Faulkner, who said he has attended several Republican Executive Club meetings but is not an active member, said his candidacy was motivated by concern about the direction of Pasco County's future growth.

"I don't want to see another U.S. 19 in the middle of the county" after the Suncoast Parkway opens, he said.

"I don't think we enforce some of the ordinances that are already on the books," Faulkner added.

A New Jersey native, he has lived in Florida since 1953, except for a stint in New York. The electrical contractor and his wife have three adult children.

In his candidacy announcement, Faulkner lists among his past accomplishments his status as a Vietnam veteran, a volunteer with the Richey Suncoast Theater and an elder of First Presbyterian Church of Port Richey.

Faulkner laughingly admits that his famous name could help him out at the polls. He and his father shared the late author's name, he said.

"When my sister was in college, the professor asked her if she was related to William Faulkner, and she said "Yeah, he's my father,' " Faulkner said.