news Gulfport Council Has a ‘Lot’ of Candidates
overseas ballots by January 23, 2021; mail-in ballots get mailed starting January 28.
By Laura Mulrooney and Gabber Staff
A Season of Giving
LAURA MULROONEY
Gulfport Family Restaurant’s Peter Kiriopolous presented Gulfport Fire Chief James Marenkovic with a $5,000 check for the benefit of the fire department.
At the Tuesday, December 15 Gulfport City Council meeting, the sole item on the agenda dealt with the 2021 municipal elections and drawing lots to determine name placement on the March 9 ballot. “The Charter requires it be done by the City Clerk,” City Clerk Lesley DeMuth said. To ensure the names dropped in the bucket were the same size and shape, Demuth wrote the candidate names on the back of her own business cards. The city’s Charter Review Committee, which, until 2020, consisted of private citizens (in 2020 council acted as the charter review committee), recommended the city change from the way it traditionally listed candidates on the ballot (alphabetically) to the current method. Ordinance 2005-06, which council passed in May 2005, mandated that the clerk draw lots for order on the ballot. Five candidates will vie for two offices.
“We’ll have two [candidates] for Ward Two and three for Ward Four,” said Demuth. The Ward Two incumbent councilmember, Christine Brown, faces a challenge from Mike Bauer. In Ward Four, incumbent Michael Fridovich faces three challengers: repeated challenger (and sometimes elf-costumed-council attendee) Richard Fried; and Ian O’Hara. A fourth candidate for the Ward Four race, Robert Barto, qualified but withdrew. Barto works for the City of St. Petersburg and expressed to the Gabber that he couldn’t effectively serve two cities at this time. DeMuth drew lots as follows: For Ward Two, Michael Bauer will appear first on the ballot, followed by Christine Brown. In Ward Four, Ian O’Hara will appear first on the ballot followed by Richard Fried and then Michael Fridovich. The election will cost the city more than $17,000. The Supervisor of Elections will mail all military and
• PAY LESS TO SELL YOUR HOME! • Save Thousands in Fees with Me • You Pay Only 3-4% Commission! • Full Service Real Estate For Less 4
Jeff Thomsen, Realtor Realean Real Estate
727-222-0099 JeffThomsen.com
Beverly Newcomb accepted the “Spirit of Gulfport” award on behalf of herself and her late husband, Bob. Gulfport artist Ray Domingo painted a likeness of Bob, and the portrait appeared on stage as she accepted the award on behalf of them both. “I have to say a few words. Bob would never forgive me; he didn’t leave silence very long. I want you to know how grateful the Newcomb family is to Ray Domingo for this fabulous portrait. We have smaller copies – couldn’t quite fit that in my home,” Newcomb said, adding, “I called Ray to ask if Bob could be with me, as he always was.” Bob Newcomb passed away on May 4, 2020 at 84. Bob was a force to be reckoned with in Gulfport. He hailed from Massachusetts, but you wouldn’t know it from the way Bob loved Gulfport. Bob and his wife Beverly, “Bev,” moved to Gulfport 14 years ago and were an integral part of the community ever since. The Newcombs’ work throughout the city continues, particularly with the Gulfport Senior Center. Mrs. Newcomb donated to the Gabber to help the current owners purchase the paper, telling us Bob would have wanted to see the paper continue. “Bob is the embodiment of what it means to be a Gulfportian,” said Councilmember Paul Ray, acknowledging Bob Newcomb’s Spirit of Gulfport award during council comments. Gulfport Family Restaurant Donates $5,000 to GP Fire and Rescue Gulfport firefighters will get better beds at work, thanks to the generosity of Gulfport Family Restaurant. At the December 15 city council meeting, restaurateur Peter Kiriopolous presented Fire Chief James Marenkovic with a $5,000 check. Marenkovic, who thought the station could benefit from a new radio, listened to his staff and decided that the firefighters will receive all new mattresses in their rest areas at the station with the donation.
theGabber.com | December 24 - December 30, 2020
