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Updated: Jun 19th, 2005 - 20:05:13 |
SANFORD -- City voters get to choose a new mayor and District 1 commissioner Tuesday in runoff elections that will help guide the city during the next four years -- a time that promises rapid and expansive changes to the city.
Nowhere is that promise more evident than in downtown Sanford, where a First Street face-lift, a new condominium project and the RiverWalk already have begun to change the city's appearance and reputation.
Sanford is poised to recast its image from an uninspired, aging suburb to a vibrant city.
Runoff elections were required because no candidate in either race got more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 8 general election.
Voters have a choice for mayor between downtown activist Linda Kuhn and former City Commissioner Herbert "Whitey" Eckstein.
Kuhn says it's time for Sanford's elected leadership to set a grand vision for the city and then stick to it. What's more, the city must learn to hold out for upscale development and industry that will fit in with that grand vision, she says.
Eckstein, who served on the City Commission for 16 years until 2001, said he fears that divisiveness on the commission and a leadership void threaten to undo all the good that has come about.
Eckstein said his previous experience on the commission makes him better qualified to lead. He points to approval and construction of Seminole Towne Center mall, development of the city's airport, the new Interstate 4 bridge over the St. Johns River and preservation of Sanford Memorial Stadium as some of the major accomplishments during his tenure.
Kuhn and Eckstein emerged as the top two vote-getters among four candidates in the general election. Kuhn collected 46.5 percent to Eckstein's 42.8 percent. The 103-vote difference was attributed largely to Kuhn's strong showing in District 2, which includes the Goldsboro community. Kuhn picked up 71 percent of the vote in that district.
Eckstein fared best in districts 3 and 4, where he garnered more than half of the vote in each.
The battle for District 1 pits incumbent Art Woodruff against longtime funeral-home director Bernard Mitchell. Woodruff collected 40.4 percent of the vote to Mitchell's 25.5 percent in a five-candidate field in the general election.
Woodruff, a high school physics teacher seeking a second term, has said the city is improving and is positioned to achieve greatness. Taxes are down, reserves are up and development standards have been toughened during his tenure, he said.
Mitchell agrees things have improved, but he says the city still has a way to go in crime prevention. Drug sales, prostitution and gambling remain a problem. Mitchell said he wants to work with police and fire officials to make sure they have the resources necessary to do their jobs.
Turnout for runoff races tends to be lower than for general elections, but early voting data suggest Tuesday's showing may be strong. In the general election, 443 voters cast early ballots over a two-week period. In the first two days of early voting for the runoff election, 167 ballots were cast, Seminole County Elections Supervisor Michael Ertel said.
Early voting will continue Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the election supervisor's office, 1500 E. Airport Blvd.
Four polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
District 1 -- Sanford Civic Center, 401 E. Seminole Blvd.
District 2 -- Westside Recreation Center, 919 S. Persimmon Ave.
District 3 -- First Church of the Nazarene, 2581 Sanford Ave.
District 4 -- Seminole County Health Department, 400 W. Airport Blvd.
Seminole County Watch.com
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