Fred Petty‘s Pinellas County roots go deep.
Back in 1967, after a 20-year career in the Navy, the now 85-year-old Petty first moved to the area. That same year he began working for the Pinellas County tax collector.
Over time, Petty moved up through the ranks of the tax collector’s office and, in 1992, decided to run for the county’s official tax collector post. He won that year and won again in 1996, ultimately serving two consecutive four year terms in office.
Fast forward 15 years — all of which were spent out of the political spot light — and Petty’s ready for his comeback.
“I’ve always liked working, serving people, and trying to make people’s lives easier,” said Petty over the phone to SaintPetersBlog.
Two years ago, he moved into a senior living community in Seminole with his wife Sylvia. Soon thereafter, he was attending City Council meetings, thinking of the financial guidance he felt he could offer his new community.
“[I have] experience with federal government, state government, and county government,” said Petty. “I know where the revenue comes from, and I know where it should go.”
One of Petty’s chief concerns has to do with an influx of money which he believes will soon be coming to Seminole, thanks in part to new developments, like a new mall which is planned for the area.
“I’m concerned about the additional revenue that the mall will bring in, as well as the Walmart that’s been built, as well as a recently built subdivision,” said Petty. “There will be more tax dollars coming into the city than there has been in previous years. […] I don’t want [City Council] to go out and say, ‘hey, now that we’ve got this additional revenue, let’s go ahead and invest in things that you have to pay for for the next 30 or 40 years.'”
Petty’s been in the game long enough to know that a candidate’s intentions matter little if there’s no support from the masses.
And while Petty acknowledges the technological changes that have come to political campaigning over the years, he still feels just fine with knocking on doors, introducing himself, describing his intentions to run for office, handing out campaign literature, and having actual face-to-face conversations.
“I thoroughly enjoy meeting people,” said Petty, who spoke like he was smiling when describing how he gets his message out without using e-mails or Facebook and the like.
“All the [campaign] material I use is the type where you can punch a hole in it, put a rubber band through it, and hang it on a door knob.”
Petty believes these traditional campaign methods can still work in smaller cities, like Seminole, and says he’s been received very warmly by the majority of voters he’s encountered.
Over the years, however, Petty says he’s definitely noticed a shift in the local political atmosphere.
“When I first started,” said Petty, “people showed more interest on the local level. There were larger turn-outs at the polls. [Now], a lot of people say ‘I don’t vote.’ And there doesn’t seem to be as many people asking questions as there used to be.”
When asked why voters seemed less interested today, Petty thought for a moment, then said: “so many candidates go out, say what they’re going to do, and then it never happens.”
Seminole’s City Council elections fall on Nov. 3 — next Tuesday. Six candidates are running for two open council seats. The top two vote-getters will take office.
Council members serve three-year terms and make $8,200 a year. Typically, meetings are held twice a month.
