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As Vote Nears, Tensions Divide Old Seminole Heights Group

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By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - Most neighborhood elections are pretty humdrum. That's not the case this year for the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association.

Divisions are splitting the group into two camps, with allegations of unfair tactics and bylaws violations.

No one is happy about the mess.

"It stinks," Diane Jenkins said during the Oct. 21 executive board meeting. "This organization must do everything it can to derail this damage."

Recent tensions have swirled around a closely guarded membership database, postcards endorsing a candidate slate that arrived on doorsteps the same day as absentee ballots, new Web blogs and a chat board with board members' e-mails.

Challenges have been made to the board's interpretation of the bylaws on absentee ballots and what constitutes a quorum.

Board members, including outgoing President Susan Long who is seeking a term as treasurer, say the election process has been legally correct. They take umbrage at suggestions the board has been unfair or biased.

"Unfounded allegations are little more than gossip," said board member Bill Hunter, who is running for another trustee term.

Still, the board voted to take steps it hopes will address perceptions of a tainted election.

Postcards will be mailed to association members making it clear the organization does not make endorsements. That message will be repeated when members meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Seminole Heights United Methodist Church to cast ballots for 2009 officers.

Some are not sure any remedy can undo the damage.

"There is always going to be a cloud on this election," said trustee candidate and former President Randy Baron.

Because postcards endorsing a specific slate of candidates arrived the same day as absentee ballots sent by the association, some say the cards appeared to be the association's recommended candidates.

Some members already have returned absentee ballots.

"I think we're in a real dilemma here," association member Myron Griffin said.

He suggested postponing the election for three months. But the board said bylaws mandate the election be held Tuesday.

Outgoing secretary Helen Kynes said a second postcard mailing is "a Band-Aid" that won't resolve the dispute, especially if candidates listed on the first postcard win.

"I don't think it can be fixed," vice presidential candidate Rick Fifer said. "But this is not the way to run an election."

The candidates for the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association's 2009 executive board are:

President: Jeff Harmon and Christie Hess

Vice president: Rick Fifer and Evan St. Ives

Secretary: Gail Davis and Christy Freeman

Treasurer: Carlos Gomez and Susan Long

Trustee: Randy Baron, Doreen DiBona, Shawn Hicks, Bill Hunter, Eric Krause, Jim Kwid and Tommy McNeeley

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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