Submit questions for the 2018 Safety Harbor candidate forum
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The 2018 Safety Harbor candidate forum is little more than a week away, with the event set for Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa. The event will also be streamed live on the Safety Harbor Connect Facebook page starting at 6:30.
The forum, which is being hosted by the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce and moderated by the League of Women Voters, will allow the public the opportunity to pose questions of the six candidates vying for three open city commission seats.
While organizers intend to collect questions at the door upon arrival, they would also like to hear from Safety Harbor residents and merchants that might not be able to make it to the forum.
“We just want to give everyone the opportunity to have the issues that are important to them addressed,” Chamber President Susan Petersen told Safety Harbor Connect, adding questions can be submitted via email at shcc200@gmail.com.
“We of course can’t guarantee that every question will be asked, but we will learn what the majority want to hear.”
Some of the issues sure to be discussed at the two-hour forum include the recent influx of new developments in the city, specifically in the downtown district, and whether officials should hire a full time Economic Development Director to handle all the work.
Other hot button topics could include the future of the Waterfront Park; the state of parking downtown and how it relates to the city’s walkability, bikability and connectivity; and the commission’s recent decision to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in town despite the overwhelming passage of Amendment 2 in November 2016.
Of course, there could be more subjects of interest community members would like their future elected officials to address.
“It would be nice to know what the residents and merchants would like to hear from the candidates,” Petersen said.
So, Harborites: What questions would you like to ask the 2018 Safety Harbor Election candidates? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below or on the Safety Harbor Connect Facebook page, or email the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce at shcc200@gmail.com.
Related content:
- Candidate forum moved from City Hall to Safety Harbor Spa
- 2018 Safety Harbor election candidates set; six vying for three open commission seats
- Lister resigns as economic development liaison to run for Safety Harbor City Commission
Hello Anonymous Riddler Poster–your comment does not warrant a response but for those unfamiliar with your guerilla tactics: the reason that I was appointed and re-appointed by the commission 3 times, and served for 5 years, is because ALL of the sitting commissioners knew that your ( now repeated) claims were lies. I stepped down to exercise my 1st Amendment right to present evidence and expose the fakers here. I would also fight for your right to express your honest opinions, but your failure to “own” your words, and take responsibility for your lies, shows you are a coward. Anyone who thinks I promote “hate” needs to look at my facebook page, Saving Safety Harbor…check out CATS of Safety Harbor while you are at it. If you want the facts, you can call me, my phone number is 248-736-0819.
How did each candidate feel about the harassment many new residents have received at the hands of the “old guard” over the past two years? How can each candidate make sure new neighbors are treated better in the future? We’ve seen new residents crying and upset at commission meeting just pleading for help. What can we do?
(Note: Andy Zodrow doesn’t need to answer since he’s actually closely aligned himself with disgraced former board member Shelly Schellenberg, a woman who resigned rather than face consequences for her actions and who also helped to spearhead the harassment in her hate forum. Andy actively participates in the hate forum. Shelly is even helping to manage his campaign!)
Considering the historical division of Safety Harbor politics, do you feel it is appropriate for a sitting commissioner to state that a building approved many years ago and currently under construction is a disaster to the community, disparaging current and prospective buyers?
What is your view on helping to clean up some of the very dilapidated homes in the area that are bringing down our RE values. Are you interested in looking at our codes and also seeing if they need to be updated to deal with these homes?