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Election results

Belleair voters retain three incumbents

About 50 percent of Belleair's 3,231 registered voters turned out at the polls for the Town Commission races.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published March 9, 2005

Three incumbents swept the election in one of Belleair's most heated races.

George Mariani Jr. defeated G. Michael Harris for mayor, earning 57 percent of the vote.

"I think that demonstrates that the town of Belleair recognizes that we have worked hard and fairly and honestly and choose to represent all of the citizens of Belleair," Mariani, 57, said.

Mariani is following in the footsteps of his late father, who served three terms as mayor and three terms as town commissioner.

Top vote-getters Gary Katica, a sales manager for Dimmitt Luxury Motorcars, and Stephen Fowler, who owns an architectural firm, were re-elected to the commission. Katica brought in 30 percent of the vote, and Fowler garnered 27 percent. The commission seats are at-large seats.

"Wow," Katica, 71, said after hearing the news. "The people believe in us."

Katica, a resident of Belleair for 21 years, has been serving on the commission since 2000.

Fowler, 60, who was elected for his fifth term, said he was honored that residents continue to support him and like what he's doing.

About 50 percent of Belleair's 3,231 registered voters came out to the polls.

This was the first time Mariani had a challenger since he joined the commission in 1998. Two years ago, all three incumbents were elected without opposition.

This year, three political newcomers, G. Michael Harris, Rae Claire Johnson and Robert Bender, pooled their energies in an unsuccessful run for the town commission. They said town leaders dragged their feet on negotiations with Progress Energy and have not kept the community in the loop.

Supporters for the incumbents sent out numerous packets and bulletins, alleging that the challengers were affiliated with Progress Energy and highlighting Harris' civil litigation history.

"We fought a good race. We fought a clean race. We kept the high road. I said all along that if the Lord wants us to win we'll win. The Lord wanted us to go fishing with our kids," Harris, 40, said.

Johnson, who earned 23 percent of the vote for the commission, started a Web site for the town about a year ago. The three updated the site with town news and eventually posted their political biographies. Within weeks, the town began its own official site.

Hot campaign topics included the future of the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa and golf course properties and how to handle future negotiations with Progress Energy.

During the campaign, most of the candidates said they were against developing the golf course. Katica and the challengers have voiced strong support for preserving the Belleview Biltmore as well.

The town is considering a break with the energy company to run its own utility and residents could decide in a referendum by mid October if the town will sever ties with Progress Energy.

The climate of the commission could determine how plans for municipal power or negotiations with Progress Energy pan out.

Mariani has had an icy relationship with Progress Energy and accused the political newcomers of being "Progress Energy's slate of candidates."

Several of the candidates spent much of the day waving signs in front of Town Hall, Belleair's only polling place. Incumbents huddled together in one bunch, newcomers in another.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:54:20]