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Election Slates Set In Port Richey, New Port Richey

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: February 20, 2009

Updated:

NEW PORT RICHEY - With the filing deadline for candidates come and gone, the fields have been determined for the 2009 municipal elections in New Port Richey and Port Richey.

For Port Richey Mayor Richard Rober, the race to Election Day, April 14, can be a leisurely stroll, or as leisurely as politics ever are in Port Richey. Rober, 49, is guaranteed to hold onto the City Council gavel for another two years, as he was the only candidate to file for this year's mayoral race.

It is also guaranteed that Rober's second term as mayor will be with a slightly different City Council lineup, as Councilman Mark Hashim chose not to seek a second term on the five-member council.

Seeking to succeed Hashim are two political newcomers:

•Amy Scott, 46, a financial planning consultant who has lived in Port Richey for four years. Like Hashim did in 2007, Scott runs as a member of a group intent on dissolving the city. She recently was part of a petition committee that succeeded in reviving the issue to the point that a council ordinance calling for a voter referendum on the issue is now in the works.

•William Colombo, 52, also a resident of Port Richey for four years, is employed by St. Mark's Village, a continuing care retirement facility in Palm Harbor.

In New Port Richey, Ginny Miller, a math teacher at Gulf High School, is seeking to return to the council. After nine years Miller gave up a seat on the City Council to mount what turned out to be an unsuccessful candidacy for the Pasco County Commission seat held by Jack Mariano.

To pull off the council comeback, Miller would have to unseat one of the two incumbents seeking re-election:

•Judy DeBella Thomas, executive director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, who replaced Miller on the council by winning a one-year term last year. The short term was part of a realignment process as the city transitioned from two-year to three-year staggered terms for the mayor and council.

•Council Marilynn de Chant, a public relations consultant, is completing her second consecutive two-year term and is seeking another three years on the council.

The top two vote-getters will win the two New Port Richey City Council seats on the ballot this year.

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or at klowry@suncoastnews.com

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