2017 Safety Harbor Municipal Election: What You Need to Know
By 
The 2017 Safety Harbor municipal election is finally here, and not a moment too soon.
While local elections can be contentious, perhaps none in Safety Harbor’s history has been more heated than the 2017 campaign season, as a number of hot-button issues have divided residents over the past several months.
As you probably know by now, eight candidates are vying for three open City Commission seats, including a pair of mayoral candidates, and voters got the opportunity to learn more about each of them at the candidate forum in January and through the individual candidate profiles Safety Harbor Connect published last month.
Here’s a breakdown of the candidates, listed in alphabetical order, and the seats they are running for:
Mayor:
Seat #1:
Seat #4:
On the eve of Election Day 2017, here are some things you will need to know before heading to the polls.
According to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website, there are five polling stations that serve eight precincts in the City of Safety Harbor:
- Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 Second St. N. (#606, 608 & 613)
- Cyprus Meadows Community Church, 2180 N. McMullen Booth Rd. (#611 & 612)
- Espirito Santo Catholic Church, 2405 Philippe Pkwy (#614)
- Countryside Baptist Church, 2525 N. McMullen Booth Rd. (#615)
- Briar Creek Mobile Home Park, Clubhouse #1, 100 Briar Creek Blvd. (#619)
The polls open at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 7:00 p.m.
The SOE website reminds voters to make sure you have a valid ID with picture and signature in order to vote.
According to the SOE, Safety Harbor had 5,812 ballots mailed, picked up and voted in election offices as of March 10. Of those, 2,802 have been returned, or 48.21%. Real-time election results can be found on the SOE website starting Tuesday.
If you missed our individual candidate profiles when they were originally published, or you would like a reminder of each of the candidates plans and ideas for the city, this article contains all eight of the Safety Harbor Connect candidate profiles.
Follow Safety Harbor Connect on Facebook and Twitter for live updates and results on Election Day, and look for a full recap of the election on Safety Harbor Connect.com. on Wednesday.
Related content:
- Are Safety Harbor residents being lied to?
- 2017 Safety Harbor election candidates set
- Safety Harbor election hopefuls meet the public at candidate forum
- Mayor Steingold will not run for reelection in 2017
- Commissioner Hooper resigns, three seats open in March
- Eight candidates declare for three open commission seats
- Joe Ayoub to run for mayor of Safety Harbor in 2017
- Campaign season trumps holiday season in Safety Harbor
“According to the SOE, Safety Harbor had 5,812 ballots mailed, picked up and voted in election offices as of March 10. Of those, 2,802 have been returned, or 48.21%.”.
What does ‘returned’ mean and why would 48.21% (2,802) of mailed ballots be returned? I hope ‘returned’ doesn’t equate to ‘not counted’…
In our elections, where less than 5,000 total votes were tallied in each race (per SOE unofficial results), 2,802 not counted votes could have a significant impact.
I hope the Commission going forward acknowledges and honors that we are a city of distinct neighborhoods with different cultural and aesthetic values. Sameness (homogeneity) is not special nor does it provide for the range of household types (Milennials, Boomers, blue collar, etc.) in our city today and in the near future (noticed all the baby strollers in town?). If the residents of a neighborhood desire traditional neighborhood design or spread out suburban design or infill townhouses or shop-top apartments that should be decided by the neighborhood, not by one-size-fits-all regulations decided by Commissioners who have their own set of cultural and aesthetic values (or those of their special interest lobbiest). Fingers crossed that tomorrow marks the end of Safety Harbor’s 2-year backward slide.
Thanks Tammy!
Tomorrow is the city’s election day and not a moment too soon. I’m sick & tired of all the ugliness.
Yes. Those Status Quo folks really did some incredibly viscious mudslinging. I’m praying that tomorrow they will be put in their place and gain a little humility in the process.
No one did more mudslinging than you, deluxe, connects and “smart” growth. It will be great to be rid of all of you and the developer’s puppets.
Sharon McAuley – negative campaigner, angry woman, Hooper supporter and tummy sleeper.
Sharon, have you ever had a positive day or said something nice? Everything is so negative from you. In all seriousness I wish happy and positive thoughts your way!
Sharon, life is short, be positive and fill each day with positive messages. ?