Latest news with #Latvala
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pinellas County commissioners discuss moving to a county mayor instead of county administrator
The Brief Pinellas County is discussing proposals that would allow residents to elect a county mayor. A Pinellas County mayor would replace the county administrator position as the top county official. Some believe it would give residents a stronger voice in their representation, while others think it would strip the county of its authority. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pinellas County voters could get the chance to decide on what form of government they want. Commissioners are discussing moving to a county mayor instead of a county administrator, ultimately letting the voters decide on the county's leadership. Commissioner Chris Latvala introduced the idea on the premise that it allows voters to elect the top county official. The backstory County Administrator Barry Burton currently oversees a budget of $4.3 million and over 2,000 employees. Latvala says this does not reflect Burton, who shepherded the county through the Covid-19 pandemic, hurricanes and the Ray's stadium deal. Instead, he says this shift could mirror Burton's eventual retirement. "Mr. Burton has done a tremendous job for Pinellas County, and I have no complaints about his performance," said Latvala. Instead, Latvala says it puts power in the hands of voters. In doing so, commissioners would be giving up some of their authority. Right now, they can hire and fire the county administrator, and they would not be able to do that with a county mayor. READ: CDC staffers that investigate cruise ship outbreaks recently laid off, HHS says "We would be weakening our own power. But I believe, philosophically, that the voter should decide who makes the day-to-day decisions for Pinellas County," said Latvala. Big picture view Commissioner Vince Nowicki says he's interested in having the conversations and weighing the pros and cons of the proposal. "I think it could be good with the right system of checks and balances in place. It's good to have somebody that's kind of pulling on the levers of day-to-day that's an elected official, because they can be held accountable to the voters directly," said Nowicki. Nowicki is also concerned about handing too much centralized power to one elected official. "I think that's a slippery slope. When you have one person making that decision, the power is stripped away from the local body of government," said Nowicki. "I'd like to see, which we haven't really talked much about, is maybe elevating the chairman (of the board's) position a little bit on our commission. Perhaps we're able to elevate the powers of our chair and maybe have more checks and balances and be able to decide more as a commission," said Nowicki. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Still in the early phases of discussion, he's focused on finding out what residents want. "I think it's important to really have our finger on the pulse of what the residents want to make sure we're leading with that, a resident first agenda," said Nowicki. What's next Commissioners are set to continue the dialogue around the issue. They'll have to decide whether to put it on the ballot for voters in 2026 and then potentially implement it by 2028. If Pinellas County creates a mayor's office, it would not be the first county in Florida to do so. Miami-Dade and Orange Counties have mayors elected by voters, while Palm Beach County has a mayor whom the Board of Commissioners elects. The Source FOX 13's Genevieve Curtis collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Pinellas County soon have a county mayor? Proposal would create new top office
The Brief Leaders in Pinellas County are considering a proposal that would create a county mayor's office. The position would replace the county administrator and would be elected instead of appointed. To make it happen, commissioners would have to agree on a ballot referendum with voters having the final say. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pinellas County commissioners are weighing a proposal to establish a county mayor's office – and while it's not a done deal, a countywide mayor could take office in less than three years. Leaders discussed the idea during last Thursday's county commission meeting. Big picture view If the position is established, the county mayor would replace the county administrator – a position currently held by Barry Burton – and would be elected instead of appointed, with the first election taking place in November 2028. What they're saying Commissioner Chris Latvala proposed the change, saying voters should have more of a say in who holds the top job in Pinellas County's government. "This has nothing to do with Barry's performance," Latvala said. "If you've looked at the two or three reviews I've given him, they're very high. Barry does a wonderful job as our county administrator. And, but I believe philosophically that in a county such as ours, the person that makes the day-to-day decisions should be elected, should be somebody that's accountable to the voters." Latvala also said the commission should take time and "be deliberative" in weighing the proposal before deciding to take that path. What's next In order for the mayor's office to be established for the 2028 general election, five of the county's seven commissioners have to agree to a ballot referendum for 2026. County residents would then vote on the referendum. For now, commissioners say they're planning to check state statutes and get a clearer idea of how a mayor would affect other officials' duties. READ: Charter captain arrested following confrontation captured on viral video Dig deeper If Pinellas County creates a mayor's office, it would not be the first county in Florida to do so. Miami-Dade, Orange and Palm Beach Counties each have an elected mayor. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Mariah Harrison. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pinellas commissioner reignites focus on LGBTQ+ materials in libraries
Nearly two summers after a Pinellas County commissioner pressured officials at the Palm Harbor Library to remove a Pride Month display from the children's section, the branch is yet again facing scrutiny — and potential budgetary retaliation should they not comply with the board's directives. After recently touring libraries across the county, Commissioner Vince Nowicki found issue with the Palm Harbor branch and drafted a resolution that would ban displays, oral presentations and pamphlets that 'promote sexual identity' in the children's section. The Palm Harbor Community Services Agency held a special meeting Monday night to discuss the issue and proactively address the county's concerns. County commissioners tabled a vote on Nowicki's proposal Tuesday, agreeing to grant the library the opportunity to address the issues on its own, but reiterated they would be monitoring its actions. 'We'll be keeping a gadfly eye on Palm Harbor Library,' Nowicki said. In June 2023, Commissioner Chris Latvala took issue with the library's Pride Month display and the library's then-director, who he said was unfit for the position. The display was ultimately taken down, despite overwhelming support from the community to keep it up. Latvala said he toured the library Monday, and by then all of the LGBTQ+ materials had been relocated from the children's section. Although he acknowledged the library's cooperation with commissioners, he cautioned that Palm Harbor be wary of what goes into the children's section this June during Pride Month. 'We have a budget process coming up this summer, and I will remind those folks that that happens during Pride Month,' Latvala said Tuesday. Palm Harbor Library isn't the only branch receiving budgetary threats. Nowicki also visited Largo Public Library on Saturday and sent photos to state Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Largo, of LGBTQ+ pamphlets and pride flags. Jacques sent a letter to the mayor of Largo stating that he would not support state funding for the library or future appropriations for the city if the items were not taken down and 'fully corrected.' 'I believe, as most of my constituents do, that these types of themes are within the purview of parental guidance, not government-sponsored activism,' Jacques said in an interview. 'I felt the way I can influence it is through the budget process.' Largo Mayor Woody Brown said in an interview the materials were in the teen section and are inaccessible to younger children. On Monday, he said he did not anticipate making changes, and that books exploring these topics can help parents answer questions their children may have. The city owns and operates the library. 'When it comes to having a pride flag in the library, our city makes it a point to make sure that everybody feels welcome,' he said, 'and we're going to continue to do that.' A petition with nearly 900 signatures as of Wednesday has circulated in protest of the resolution and was forwarded to county commissioners. 'Libraries should reflect the diverse needs of all patrons, including marginalized communities,' wrote Jessica Terrence in an email to Commissioner Brian Scott. 'My children deserve access to books that help them understand the world, and as a parent, I — not government officials — should decide what they read.' Nowicki's proposal also included 'accountability measures' for staff who violate the policy and required the library submit a new Strategic Plan that removes any language, content, policies or principles related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Palm Harbor Library Director Matthew David attended Tuesday's meeting and said the branch will remove stickers from books that identify them as LGBTQ+, which was a point of concern for Nowicki. David said these were put in place to help patrons identify the book's genre — helping parents find or avoid them. Of the library's books, less than 1% contain LGBTQ+ topics, David said. Mentions of diversity, equity and inclusion were also removed from the Strategic Plan. 'The world is complex and one of the great joys is having an institution that has to deal with those complexities,' David said. In a county work session March 20, Commissioner Dave Eggers agreed that LGBTQ+ materials should not be in the children's section. But, he cautioned against removing them from teen sections, because they can be a resource for young people facing mental health challenges. Eggers also attended the advisory meeting Monday and said dialogue with the library leadership was a 'night and day difference' compared to two years ago and encouraged the commissioners to let them handle the situation on their own. 'When the numbers really come out, there's more people complaining about us doing anything versus doing nothing,' Eggers said. Although the commissioners did not adopt the resolution, they were clear that it can be brought back should concerns arise. 'If the board decides to let the library go its own course, if I see something I don't like it will be back here again,' Nowicki said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pinellas commissioner: Rays are ‘lying to our residents'
A Pinellas commissioner once again is blasting Tampa Bay Rays team leaders for asserting the county has killed an agreement to build a new baseball stadium. Commissioner Chris Latvala said Thursday Rays presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld needed to 'get over themselves' for comments they made in a team-sponsored sports radio show that aired last week. In the segment, Silverman said the county's decision to delay a planned October vote on stadium financing 'effectively broke the deal' they reached for a stadium last summer. The team has said that decision and a subsequent delay pushed back the timeline for opening a new $1.3 billion stadium and drove up its costs beyond what the Rays can afford. Latvala said the October vote on approving bonds to finance its portion of the stadium was delayed because the county was dealing with back-to-back hurricanes. And the county was seeking information on where the team planned to play in the near term after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof from Tropicana Field earlier that month. Despite that, he noted that the Rays failed to send any representatives to the meeting, which they are now holding up as a pivotal moment. He said the team presidents and owner Stu Sternberg still refuse to back up claims that a delay has driven up costs. 'Matt, Stu and Brian are making things up,' Latvala said. 'I'm going to use their first names because they don't deserve anything more.' Pinellas staff, including County Administrator Barry Burton, were living at an emergency operations center in October, he said. 'Barry was more worried about our ... residents that had lost their homes during the hurricanes,' Latvala said. 'Had that October meeting been so important to the Rays, I would imagine they would've been here.' Burton said he supported 'correcting the record' about what has happened with the deal. In response to accusations that the timeline cost them money, Burton said it was the Rays' fault for having to reengage stakeholders after halting work on the project. 'It's an excuse, and it's a shame,' he said. The Rays have said they are facing a budget shortfall of $150 million because of the delay, but a consultant for Pinellas County said that was impossible. The Rays have yet to publicly say how much money they need to proceed. 'They are literally lying to our residents,' Latvala said. 'I welcome them to come to a meeting and show us that they have a $150 million shortfall that was the cause of a 21-day delay.' A spokesperson for the Tampa Bay Rays declined to comment. Other commissioners spoke up in support of Latvala and in shared opposition to the Rays' statements. 'They keep wanting to say the same thing over and over, thinking the story will change,' Commissioner Dave Eggers said. Latvala said the Rays are trying to profit off of the hurricanes and 'should be ashamed' for it. 'Brian Matt and Stu need to be reminded that the hurricane did not just hit the Trop,' Latvala said. 'It hit a bunch of other folks, and folks that are not millionaires and billionaires.'
