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Highlands Today

Avon Park Has Referendum On Ballot

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: October 22, 2008

AVON PARK - City voters will decide during the Nov. 4 election whether candidates for city council and mayor should live in the city for at least six months prior to running for office.

The city referendum, an amendment to the city charter, is open only to City of Charm voters.

The city council passed an ordinance to give the electorate a chance to decide by ballot, late last year.

The City Referendum, Amendment of City Charter Section C-7. reads:

Section C-7 of the Avon Park Charter would be amended to add a durational residency requirement for qualification for office of city councilor or mayor. The amendment would require that anyone seeking election to the office of city councilor or mayor must have maintained residency in the city for at least the six (6) consecutive month period immediately prior to the date of qualification for said office. Shall the above amendment be approved? YES or NO

Gonzalo Lezama ran for mayor against Sharon Schuler in November of 2006. The losing mayoral candidate rented a city home a few weeks prior to his qualification for candidacy for the November 2006 election. Before that date, he lived outside the city.
Joe Wright was elected to city council after his home was annexed into the city about a month prior to the qualification period for the November 2006 election in August. The qualification period ended Sept. 1.

Wright said Tuesday that he and his family lived in a home adjacent to the city for 18 years and had many financial ties to the city prior to annexation.

"Legitimate voters should vote only for legitimate candidates," said Wright, about elections on both local and national levels.

Wright said he felt compelled to run when he did, but would have waited a year - though only the timing would have changed - and he would have still sought a council seat eventually.

Mayor Sharon Schuler voted to pass the ordinance to pave the way for the ballot question.

"It is just the idea that people need to be aware of the issues in the city, be aware of the city and pay (city) taxes," said Schuler. "People need to understand what goes on in the city before they run."

Brenda Gray, councilwoman, also voted to let voters decide.

We want people to run for positions who care about Avon Park," said Gray. "They say: "I think I can do a better job, I'll run.'

"But they don't know anything about us."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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