This is a difficult time for Florida’s local governments because of the economic downturn. Adding to Safety Harbor’s challenges is that there has been upheaval on both the city staff and the City Commission in the last couple of years. After the election, Mayor Andy Steingold will be the senior commission member with four years of experience. No other commission member will have more than two years. The Times recommends:
Seat 1: With an important budget year looming, Joe Ayoub’s experience in accounting and finance could be especially useful. His goals in a new term should be to contribute more on budget issues and to deepen his ties to the people he serves by participating in more community events. Karen Skiff, 39, was raised in Safety Harbor but left as a teenager and spent many of the years since then wandering the state. The other candidate, Robin Fornino, 50, is bright, well educated and informed about city issues, and if there were not a qualified incumbent in this race, she would have our vote.
Seat 1: With an important budget year looming, Joe Ayoub’s experience in accounting and finance could be especially useful. His goals in a new term should be to contribute more on budget issues and to deepen his ties to the people he serves by participating in more community events. Karen Skiff, 39, was raised in Safety Harbor but left as a teenager and spent many of the years since then wandering the state. The other candidate, Robin Fornino, 50, is bright, well educated and informed about city issues, and if there were not a qualified incumbent in this race, she would have our vote.
Seat 2: Mary Lynda Williams Williams has worked hard to learn as much as she could as quickly as she could. Her work ethic alone qualifies her for the opportunity to have a full term.
Seat 3: When it comes to choosing candidates for public office, background matters. It isn’t difficult to figure out what Nancy Besore has been doing with her life. That’s not the case when it comes to the other candidate in this race, Glen Caristinos.
