Former Mayor Andy Steingold Qualifies For 2014 Municipal Election
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Former Safety Harbor Mayor Andy Steingold will run for mayor again in the city’s 2014 municipal election, to be held on March 11.
Steingold literally waited until the 11th hour to run; after coming in early Tuesday morning to file, his application was approved roughly one hour before the city’s deadline of noon on Tuesday, January 7, according to city officials.
With Steingold’s inclusion in the race, that brings the total number of candidates for the three open seats to seven individuals, with three vying for mayor.
The up-to-date candidate list is as follows (listed alphabetically by seat):
- Mayor: Joe Ayoub, Nancy J. Besore and Andy Steingold
- Seat #3: Dean Harmeson and Andy Zodrow
- Seat #4: Carlos Diaz and Ray R. Irvin
Steingold, who was previously elected as mayor of Safety Harbor in 2006 after serving on the City Commission, was forced to relinquish his position in the summer of 2012 after he decided to run for circuit court judge.
Then-commissioner Joe Ayoub was sworn in as Mayor of Safety Harbor in January of 2013 after no one opposed him in the 2012 election. Steingold did not win the race for circuit court judge.
Coming on the heels of Mayor Ayoub’s decision not to run for congress and seek reelection and Commissioner Besore’s surprise announcement that she would resign her commission seat to run for mayor, Steingold’s inclusion means the race to see who will be the next mayor of Safety Harbor now features a current mayor, a former mayor and a current city commissioner.
Commissioner Nina Bandoni also decided not to seek reelection, so the commission will definitely have two new members come March and, potentially, a new mayor as well.
Also, the city announced on Monday that there will be a candidate forum held on Wednesday, January 29 at City Hall. The candidates will be there to meet and greet the public as well as answer questions about community issues. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Stay with Safety Harbor Connect for continued, detailed coverage of the city’s 2014 municipal election, including individual candidate profiles and coverage of all forums and meetings as well as any breaking news.
Related content:
- Mayor Ayoub Opts to Run for Reelection
- Commission Approves Safety Harbor Election Move
- Commissioner Nina Bandoni Won’t Seek Reelection
- Deadline for Safety Harbor Election Candidates Approaching
- Commissioner Nancy Besore to Resign, Run for Mayor of Safety Harbor
- It’s Official: Nancy Besore Running for Mayor of Safety Harbor
- Safety Harbor Candidate Pool Keeps Growing
Ask Joe Ayoub about his business relationship with Joe Faw of Planning and Zoning and Bay to Bay construction.
Check out the deed to Ayoub and Faw for the property “flipping” deal Ayoub and Joe Faw (Bay To Bay Construction) did together back in 2005, the deed is recorded in Official Records of Pinellas County at Book 14516 Page 2571. The deed, together with the other deeds show that the property was bought by Ayoub and Bay to Bay, and they split it, built on it, and then “flipped” it.
Ayoub and Faw are also “social buddies” who vacation together. Check out the 2010 Colorado ski trip photo of “partying down at the bar” with “the Joes”, on Steve Ayoub’s Facebook page.
A little “too close”? Maybe a little too much of a conflict of interest? Faw (member of the Planning and Zoning Board) recommends it, Ayoub approves it, and Faw builds it?
This whole thing smells bad. Follow the money.
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