Politics & Government

Meet City Candidates for March Elections

Candidates for Ward 2 and 4 are unopposed, however, there are two candidates vying for your votes in the mayoral race.

After serving the City of Gulfport for more than 20 years, Mayor Mike Yakes is retiring after the March elections. Yakes has decided not to seek reelection.

Mayor's Race

Vice Mayor Sam Henderson and former council member Bob Worthington qualified as candidates for the mayor's post on Monday.

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“I’m excited to do it and if people are happy with what I’ve done the last 3 and a half years, hopefully I will be the next Mayor," Sam Henderson said in a previous story.

He notes Mayor Mike Yakes' retirement announcement as the final factor in his decision.

Find out what's happening in Gulfportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I knew I was never gonna run against Mayor Yakes," he said.

Bob Worthington told Patch is a previous story that he believes it's time for new leadership. Worthington wants to unify the Council and see it work well as a team.

“I don’t believe that’s something that’s being encouraged right now. I believe that I am a team builder and I think that you start with the team that sits on council," Worthington said.

Ward 2 Council Seat

Gulfport resident Christine Brown is running unopposed for Ward 2.

"I'm interested in the financial end of it and hoping to do everything we can to serve the citizens because we're here to serve the citizens and to be fiscally responsible," Brown said in a previous interview with Gulfport Patch.

Christine Brown has run for council twice, with the last campaign about eight or nine years ago, she said.

"It's always been a desire of mine to serve the city in that way," Brown said.

Ward 2 Council Member Barbara Banno has decided not to seek reelection. Banno provided the following statement to Gulfport Patch on Monday.

"I would like to thank the citizens of our great town of Gulfport. Serving on City Council has been an honor and pleasure. I am so proud to have served "in my opinion" some of the greatest people in the whole world.

However at this time I do not feel I have the time to devote to the City Council and to the Citizens that you BOTH DESERVE.

Therefore I will not be running for Re - Election.

Thank you all for your love and support over the past 2 years."

Ward 4 Council Seat

Gulfport resident Michael Fridovich is running unopposed for Ward 4.

"I want to see us develop a 5 year plan. It's important that we progress. We work on the 49th St. development side. We do things like that, at the same time we keep what Gulfport is. Gulfport doesn't need changing it just needs tweeking," Fridovich said.

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When Are City Elections?

The municipal elections are on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The mayor serves a three-year term and council members serve two-year terms. The voter registration deadline is Monday, February 11, 2013 for the next city elections. For more information on how to register visit the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.


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