Four candidates in two Oldsmar city elections will square off at a candidate forum Tuesday night. The Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event along with the city of Oldsmar.
Candidates include Seat 2 incumbent Dan Saracki and his challenger, Dan Belcher. Saracki also heads the city’s bicentennial planning committee. Belcher is a political newcomer, but has strong résumé including community involvement in youth sports.
Belcher is seeking to unseat Saracki with promises of surging energy on council as well as innovative ideas on new energy and dynamic growth.
Oldsmar’s Seat 4 is open this election. Former Mayor Jerry Beverland is running against Becky Alfonso to replace Linda Norris.
Alfonso is the executive director of the Florida Bicycle Association and a member of the city’s bicentennial planning committee.
The forum will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at City Council chambers. The League of Women Voters is moderating the debate. Each candidate will be given equal response time. Members of the audience are encouraged to submit their own questions for each candidate.
According to the city, Oldsmar is a “forward looking, dynamically growing city with some key decisions to make in the near future.” In a news release announcing the forum, the city wrote that it’s an opportunity for residents to “help select the leaders setting the tone for continued development and advancing the city’s quality of life.”
The four candidates will appear on the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary down-ballot. Turnout in such elections is expected to be higher than normal.
Representatives from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office will be on hand for voter registration and to answer questions.
Though Florida is a closed primary state, those voters registered independent, without party affiliation or as a third-party voter will still be able to vote for municipal races. More information is on the city of Oldsmar’s website.
