OLDSMAR â For several decades, many Pinellas County communities have hosted a monthly Friday night street festival, starting with St. Peteâs First Friday celebrations in the 1990s and continuing today with similar events in Safety Harbor (Third Friday) and Tarpon Springs (First Friday).Â
Now you can add Oldsmar to the list of municipalities blocking one Friday off the calendar each month as the Oldsmar City Council recently voted 5-0 in favor of waiving application fees for the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerceâs proposed Second Friday events, scheduled to take place on State Street from 6-10 p.m. on July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10.Â
OLDSMAR — When Oldsmar’s Ordinance Review Committee conducted a review of city code with the purpose of streamlining language and bringing items up to date, it recommended giving pay raises
More than 16,400 Pinellas County residents cast their ballots to decide who will lead their cities and towns into the future.
Highlighting the races March 9 were four mayoral posts, including three in municipalities along the beaches. Below are some highlights of the official results.
Commissioner Tyler Payne
Treasure Island
There will be a new mayor in Treasure Island after Commissioner Tyler Payne handily defeated incumbent Larry Lunn with 62.33% of the vote. Payne was elected in 2020 representing District 2, which encompasses Isle of Palms and Sunshine Beach. Lunn, who was elected to a three-year term in 2018, also served as commissioner of District 2 from 2017-18.
OLDSMAR â With two candidates vying for a single council seat, Oldsmarâs 2021 municipal election didnât boast the juice of a mayoral race or the buzz generated by a multi-seat, multi-candidate showdown.Â
But by the time the final votes were tallied March 9, the Seat 1 contest between political newcomers Pamela Settle and Steve Graber wound up being one of the closest in the cityâs history.Â
According to unofficial results from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, Graber led Settle by just eight votes, 1,040-1,032, the morning after Election Day, a margin so narrow it triggered an automatic recount.
âLast nightâs margin was close enough (8 votes) to trigger an automatic machine recount,â Mayor Eric Seidel posted to his Facebook page Wednesday morning, per the City Clerk. âThe supervisor of elections will conduct a recount on Friday (March 12). We will post the notice at City Hall and on the (city) website as soon as we receive i