Candidate Question of the Week

Gulfport Mayoral Candidates Weigh in on Luring Businesses to Town

As part of our coverage of the Gulfport City Elections this March, we are asking both Gulfport Mayor Candidates a "Question of the Week." Below is each candidate's answer to our sixth question.

Welcome to our weekly series, "Candidate Question of the Week," on Gulfport Patch. We will be asking Sam Henderson, current Vice Mayor, and Bob Worthington, former City Councilor, a question each week until the City Elections on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Both men are vying for your votes for Gulfport Mayor. Below are their responses to our sixth question of the week. Q: #6 "How can the city and its leaders help lure new businesses to Gulfport?" Sam Henderson "It is important to note that business is driven by private enterprise, and that government is not the impetus behind business in the free market economy.  That being said, however, there are a number of things that we can do from the city leadership perspective to make Gulfport a more …

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Henderson Distancing Worthington in Campaign Contributions

Vice Mayor Sam Henderson appears to have more financial backing for his campaign than opponent and former councilor Bob Worthington.

Documents released by the City of Gulfport show that Sam Henderson leads his opponent, Bob Worthington, in campaign contributions. Per the state of Florida's Division of Elections, Henderson received $7,885 as of Friday, Feb. 8. During the same time period, Worthington received $6,675 in campaign contributions. As of Feb. 8, Henderson spent $1,957.13 for campaign signs, handouts, cards and voter data from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office. Worthington spent $4,877.30 on similar campaign materials including postcards and Facebook advertisements, according to documents provided by the city. Here is a list of contributions for Sam Henderson as of Friday, Feb. 8, 2013: $1,000: Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee, …

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Candidate Question of the Week

Gulfport Mayoral Candidates Weigh in on Multi-Cultural Programs

As part of our coverage of the Gulfport City Elections this March, we are asking both Gulfport Mayor Candidates a "Question of the Week." Below is each candidate's answer to our fifth question.

Welcome to our weekly series, "Candidate Question of the Week," on Gulfport Patch. We will be asking Sam Henderson, current Vice Mayor, and Bob Worthington, former City Councilor, a question each week until the City Elections on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Both men are vying for your votes for Gulfport Mayor. Below are their responses to our third question of the week. This question was added in the comment section below a previous "Question of the Week" by a Gulfport reader. Q #5: "What would the candidates do to encourage a more integrated approach to activities in the community focusing on inter-generational and multi-cultural programming?" Bob Worthington "As Mayor, I would work with public/private sector as well as other local, county, …

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Mayoral Candidates Talk Human Rights Ordinance, Abandoned Homes, Mooring Field

Mayoral Candidates Bob Worthington and Sam Henderson answered questions concerning the Human Rights Ordinance, abandoned homes in Gulfport and plans for a mooring field in the bay at the city-sponsored forum.

Audience members asked Mayoral Candidates Sam Henderson and Bob Worthington several questions during the city-sponsored "Meet the Candidates" forum Tuesday night at Gulfport City Hall. Below are just a couple of questions pulled from the evening with excerpts from both candidates’ answers. Human Rights Ordinance Q: Do you believe that our local Boy Scout troop must abide by our human rights ordinance?   Sam Henderson: “Absolutely, I very much disagree with the National Boy Scouts of America’s national policy on allowing gay people to participate in the scouting program. What I feel we have right now is an excellent opportunity. We have in our pack 300. We have a pack that’s going to be a model pack. And they’re going to say we’re going to …

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Candidate Question of the Week

Gulfport Mayoral Candidates Discuss Permitting Costs

As part of our coverage of the Gulfport City Elections this March, we are asking both Gulfport Mayor Candidates a "Question of the Week." Below is each candidate's answer to our fourth question.

Welcome to our weekly series, "Candidate Question of the Week," on Gulfport Patch. We will be asking Sam Henderson, current Vice Mayor, and Bob Worthington, former City Councilor, a question each week until the City Elections on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Both men are vying for your votes for Gulfport Mayor. Below are their responses to our third question of the week. This question was added in the comment section below a previous "Question of the Week" by a Gulfport reader. Q #4: "I would like to hear the candidates address the issue of permitting costs. I feel that as owners of homes we are subjected to extremely high permit fees. For example, 70.00 for a front door replacement? 50.00 for a window? I think this is detrimental to both the …

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Candidate Question of the Week

Gulfport Mayoral Candidates Share Business Experience

As part of our coverage of the Gulfport City Elections this March, we are asking both Gulfport Mayor Candidates a "Question of the Week." Below is each candidate's answer to our third question.

Welcome to our weekly series, "Candidate Question of the Week," on Gulfport Patch. We will be asking Sam Henderson, current Vice Mayor, and Bob Worthington, former City Councilor, a question each week until the City Elections on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Both men are vying for your votes for Gulfport Mayor. Below are their responses to our third question of the week. This question was emailed to the Editor by a Gulfport reader. Q #3: "Can you elaborate on your understanding of private sector business? What positions have you held in private sector businesses and how did those positions prepare you for your potential role as mayor of Gulfport?" Bob Worthington "Private Sector Business usually refers to the citizen sector, that which involves…

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Gulfport City Council

Town Shores Candidate Forum Tuesday

Town Shores residents are invited to hear from Gulfport Mayor Candidates Sam Henderson and Bob Worthington on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Town Shores is holding a "Meet the Candidates" forum for Gulfport Mayor for residents on Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 1 - 3 p.m. Master Association President Jean Proach says more than 30 questions were submitted for Vice Mayor Sam Henderson and former councilor Bob Worthington. The two-hour forum will be held at the Town Shores Auditorium at 3210 59th St. S. Proach says the forum is held every year to help inform residents. Those who cannot make it can watch it on the Town Shores private channel, #96, after the event. Officials will record the forum and replay it at set times. For more information call the front office at (727) 345-9491. City-Sponsored Forum All residents are invited to the city-sponsored forum on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at …

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Poll: Tight Race for Gulfport Mayor

A new poll released by StPetePolls shows Sam Henderson ahead of Bob Worthington by less than 1% of polled voters.

Vice Mayor Sam Henderson and former councilor Bob Worthington are neck and neck according to a new local poll. According to local polling outfit, StPetePolls, Henderson received 30.5% voter support compared to just 29.3% for Worthington. Of the 267 registered voters who responses to the telephone survey 40.2% were undecided. Voters were also asked about the proposed charter amendment about filling elected position vacancies in the city, the red light cameras and smoking ban. Of the 204 responses, 38.1% supported the proposed charter amendment. Of the 201 responses, 49.1% think the city installing red light cameras was a good thing. Of the 198 responses, 46.1% support a smoking ban on the beach while 47.6 do not support a smoking ban on the…

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