Eight candidates declare for three open commission seats

As the deadline to qualify for the 2017 municipal election approaches, eight candidates have declared their intentions to run for the three open Safety Harbor City Commission seats.

In addition to declared mayoral candidates Joe Ayoub and Janet Hooper, six others have stated their intentions to run for the two remaining open seats—Hooper’s now vacant Seat 1, and incumbent Carlos Diaz’s Seat 4.

Here’s an alphabetical list of the candidates who have declared and the seats they have chosen to run for: (Note: According to officials, Alan Douglass originally declared his intention to run for Seat 4, but recently stated that he will not seek qualification.)

Mayor:

• Joe Ayoub
• Janet Hooper

Seat 1:

• Nancy Besore
• Cameron Boozarjomehri
• Damon Lister
• Scott Long

Seat 4:

• Carlos Diaz
• Luanne Lambert

The increase in the number of candidates since the last election update has to do with the fact that as expected, Hooper resigned her commission seat in order to run for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Andy Steingold recently announced he would not seek reelection.

The list of candidates is sprinkled with names both familiar and unknown, but perhaps the most surprising entrant is former City Commissioner Besore.

After relinquishing her commission seat and then losing the 2014 mayoral race by a wide margin to Ayoub and Steingold, Besore said at the time she was done with public office.

“I’m interested in the Safety Harbor Historical Society, and I’ll be involved in other local groups,” Besore told Safety Harbor Connect in March of 2014.

“I really enjoyed my time in office, and I want to continue doing whatever I can to maintain the charm and beauty of Safety Harbor.”

But that love of her city led Besore, a longtime teacher who retired last year, to decide to give public office another shot.

“I have enjoyed remaining in touch through volunteer work with Friends of the Library and the Safety Harbor Historical Society, but I have missed my work on the Commission,” Besore wrote via Facebook earlier this week, adding, “I look forward to reconnecting with friends and neighbors on the campaign trail.”

The qualifying period for the 2017 municipal election begins at noon on Tuesday, January 3, and ends at noon on Tuesday, January 10.

A candidate forum has been scheduled for Thursday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Safety Harbor City Hall.

Stay with Safety Harbor Connect for complete coverage of the 2017 municipal election.

Related content:

• Mayor Steingold will not run for reelection in 2017
• Commissioner Hooper resigns, three seats open in March election
• Joe Ayoub to run for Mayor of Safety Harbor in 2017
• Campaign season trumps holiday season in Safety Harbor