TO:
Patty Beliveau, City Clerk, City
of Seminole, Florida
FROM:
Patricia Plantamura, Candidate for 2015 Seminole election
RE: Plans for a better, more inclusive Seminole; November 2015 Seminole election
To the Seminole community:
With both Bachelors and Masters
Degrees in Political Science, most recently a graduate degree in Comparative
Government and Politics from USF-Tampa, it is natural that I would run for
elected office. Even so, during the past
6 1/2 years of my being a Seminole Councilor, I have learned much. I have come to know how a city runs and to
appreciate that it is the employees who make this happen. I am very proud of the talented and
hard-working city employees who keep Seminole a safe and enjoyable place to
live.
At the same time, it's been a real
eye-opener to experience the effects of an old-boy network, the small, insular
group which has been in control of Seminole for many years. There has been very little inclusion of
others, and of me, a Councilor who asks serious questions. And yet, it is the elitist attitude of this
clique that concerns me almost as much as the words of a Seminole employee in
City Hall offices, regarding a death threat made against me, several months ago.
Considering that several long-term
administrative employees have resigned since that event, and have been replaced
with a new city manager, a new city attorney, a new city clerk, a new human
resources officer, an upcoming new city administrator (and other key administrative
employees) it is obvious that Seminole is moving on to a new stage. It has become apparent to many--as indicated
by seven candidates running in the upcoming election, that the time has also come
to replace the old guard of elected officials.
The need for Seminole to move into a
new era was never more clearly seen than Manager Edmunds' email response to a
community member on his last day in office.
A young realtor had actively shared her views in public hearings and in
writing, regarding the new mall plans. Edmunds responded to her by writing that
he had actually researched her residence address, and reminded her that she
lived outside of Seminole City limits. He then condescendingly wrote that she must
understand that the "Seminole City Council represents our city's residents
and tax payers." I remain astonished
by this. Edmunds then circulated his response to her, as if his approach represented
all of us in leadership in Seminole. It
does not.
In contrast, I see Seminole as a community. Each year many people from outside Seminole city
limits volunteer at our Pow Wow and other significant events. When volunteers in our Seminole Community Library donate a hefty check to our City,
we do not ask whether those volunteers actually live in our City. Former
Manager Edmunds himself chooses not to live in Seminole. I must be clear again: this is an attitude of exclusion--one which I
do not share.
I can't help but believe that the
woman from the previously mentioned emails felt rejected, ignored and insulted,
as she responded to Edmunds stating that her business address actually pays taxes
in Seminole. She explained that, as a
realtor she touts the benefits of our city as she sells homes in the $300,000--$750,000
range in Seminole. In short, although her home is not in Seminole, she has been
a great cheerleader for our City, and hence, in my opinion, her ideas should
have been enthusiastically welcomed and considered in all discussions.
This same disregard was shown in paying
little attention to the more than 100 emails and overflowing attendance at two "public
hearings" of community members who had issues with the current development
agreement. Contrary to my approach to
their ideas, and my vote, it is clear that fellow Councilors chose not to represent the people. For city administration and Councilors to so disregard
the input of members of our community like that, is both rude and
short-sighted.
Other incidents indicate to me a
system in need of serious improvement:
giving a city vehicle as a gift to a former Seminole Council member's
organization without announcing the offer to other community organizations; and
the unprecedented use of city funds to demolish an empty house next to homes of
both a present and a former Seminole Council member. This era needs to come to
a close, both administratively and through the elected officials which support
it.
For simply asking questions and
speaking publicly about such things, institutionalized bullying which has been
directed at me, again came to light at a recent Council meeting. It seems that Council members are hearing from
community members and the public about their negative acts and behavior.
They are being called out for their questionable actions, actions which reflect
very poorly on our City.
Rather than viewing elected office as
public service, their attitudes are ego-laden and demonstrate an overinflated
sense of purpose. The Seminole Charter
is clear in stating that the Mayor is a member of Council just like the other
six, with one exception: "There
shall be a Mayor who shall be a member of the City Council and preside at
meetings of Council, shall have a vote, but shall have no administrative or
executive duties except as may be provided elsewhere herein." No other
duties are provided in the Charter. The Florida
Municipal Officials' Manual describes the city manager/council form of
government by stating: "The mayor
in a council-manager form is the ceremonial
head of the municipality, presides over council meetings, and makes
appointments to boards. The mayor may be
an important political figure, but has little, if any, role in day-to-day
municipal administration." These words provide the legal reasons by which Seminole
can even exist as a city.
Since our Charter specifies that the
Mayor is an equal member with all Council members, it is noteworthy that Waters'
public hubris has people humorously calling Seminole Council meetings "The
Leslie Waters' Show." A competent meeting
presider would not, several times now, openly break a Seminole City Ordinance which
requires the use of Robert's Rules of Order, using official meetings to orchestrate personal
attacks on another elected official. While
Mayor Waters demands respect for her office, community members still talk of
their shock and disappointment of the time when Waters placed herself in the
protest zone during the visit to our City by the President of the United
States.
More recently Waters gave written instructions to the city manager asking that I be disallowed to pray during Invocations at the opening of Council meetings, as all other Councilors are allowed. These acts from someone holding an official position in Seminole, embarrass our City.
More recently Waters gave written instructions to the city manager asking that I be disallowed to pray during Invocations at the opening of Council meetings, as all other Councilors are allowed. These acts from someone holding an official position in Seminole, embarrass our City.
I love our City. Seminole can do better than this. Seminole must do better than this. Seminole deserves better than this.
I am being encouraged by many people
to continue my good work on Council. I
recognize that I have an incumbent advantage after 6 1/2 years in office. I have heard much appreciation from community
members--most recently for my representation of their views during the
discussions of the redevelopment agreement of Seminole Mall. I am very grateful that I have more community
support now than ever.
It is precisely because of this
community support and approval, that I feel that I am able make a strong
example of myself, in highlighting the necessity of electing new people on
Seminole Council. For this reason specifically, I am withdrawing from the
November 2015 election. My withdrawal
does not mean that I am leaving
leadership in Seminole, but rather that I am providing an open door for new
interest to come in.
Having learned how local government
works, I will use my time to help motivate and guide others in our community to
nurture new leadership for this new era.
People are still bringing me questions which they want answered, and
they have asked that I, as a demonstrated leader in their community, represent
their concerns.
We are seeing that city hall doesn't
have to be a small, insular group in an exclusive club. Elected office is not meant to be a
back-slapping, self-congratulating group of people in a popularity contest, but
rather a humble, respectful and inclusive service to our citizens.
Let the lack of democratic
representation by present Councilors, as clearly seen in recent public hearings
on the mall, be a call to all citizens to be involved in local governance in
some way. If you are blessed to have the time to do it, consider serving on
Council for a few years. It is important
that we represent the ideas of, and motivate younger, family-oriented citizens
to run for public office.
Each year two Council positions come up for election. I am taking this year off as I consider a run again next year. Due to lack of community interest, our present Mayor holds that office by default, and what should be an elected position is not, because no other person stepped up to run in that election. I repeat again from previously, Seminole can do better than this. Seminole must do better than this. Seminole deserves better than this. I will consider the encouragement I'm receiving from the public to run for that office next year.
In light of what I have shared, I now
respectfully withdraw from candidacy for the November 2015 Seminole election. While I am choosing not to run this year, I will
continue my forward movement in ongoing service to the Seminole community.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Plantamura
For anyone interested in learning
about the history which led up to my decision, see my blog at: http://www.patplant.blogspot.com/
