Perry, Salmon Talk Dispatch, Development, Budget

The Town Shores Master Association held two candidate forums this week. Questions were submitted by Town Shores residents and Gregg Fata with the Master Association hosted the event.

Incumbent Jennifer Salmon and James Perry are running for the Ward 3 City Council seat.

Jennifer Salmon and James Perry both agree on keeping the Gulfport Police Department, expanding Gulfport Boulevard and cleaning up Clam Bayou during the forum on Wednesday.

However, they differ on one main issue, dispatch.

Gulfport Police Department Dispatch

James Perry believes the city should not have outsourced the Gulfport Police dispatch services and eliminated jobs during last year's budget process.

“I grew up here and many times over the years I’ve called dispatch, something was going on, it was nice to have someone on the phone, not only did they work here, but they understood the area. I think loosing the dispatch center was not really the right thing to do”

Jennifer Salmon stands by her decision to support outsourcing the services.

“This decision saved us $300,000 (a year). From this time on, our budget (is) about 3 percent lower than the year before and that’s going to be consistent,” Salmon said.

Property Taxes, City Fees

Jennifer Salmon says her position on the millage rate is to keep taxes stable.

"When the property values go up, we should reduce the millage rate. When values go down, the millage rate should go up," Salmon said.

As for increasing city fees Salmon says, "The only thing I feel uneasy about is that we did a "blanket" increase." Salmon wants to conduct a market study or each department to evaluate what fees should be changed, rather than increase all fees at once.

James Perry believes increasing taxes is "the wrong thing to do."

“I haven’t been able to give myself a raise in years, I have to watch how I bid jobs just to get work. Having to pay anymore taxes, it’s the wrong thing to do.”

Perry does not have a problem with increasing fees for garbage, water and sewer.

City Budget

James Perry is adamant that he does not "want to see people who've worked here for years have to lose their jobs,. Perry believes that there may be a need for cutbacks in a down economy, but he also expresses that he is against raising property taxes.

Jennifer Salmon shared two general ideas to possibly help balance the budget.

• looking at overtime costs in other departments and possibly reducing or eliminating those hours
• looking at other ways to contract services for less money

Expanding Gulfport Boulevard

Jennifer Salmon is in favor of adding a turning lane on Gulfport Blvd. "I'm a big fan of it."

"I agree 100%. I know they did it in St. Pete Beach. It at least gives you a spot, if you have a lot of traffic to wait a few minutes. Anything to cut down accidents," James Perry said.

Clam Bayou

James Perry says Clam Bayou has become a mud flat and he knows city officials and volunteers have been working on clean up events to improve the area. Perry suggested looking into state aid to see how else we can improve the bayou. Perry also discussed litter in the city. Stating that perhaps we could bring in people to help.

"There are people who need community service who could be out there on a daily basis," Perry said.

Salmon says she wants to see more birds, manatees and overall a healthy environment for wildlife at Clam Bayou. She agrees that Clam Bayou is a mud flat and something needs to be done.

"There are ways to do environmental dredging that is safe," Salmon said.

Business

Jennifer Salmon says the city is moving in the right direction by approving the use of the EPA Brownfields Program. Salmon says the program wll help the city clean up properties on 49th St. and possibly lead to economic development.

Salmon wants to lure people to Gulfport with art in the parks. She also wants to see more businesses for the boating community. And she wants to look at helping those who run work-from-home businesses by allowing them to serve one customer at a time at home.

James Perry says the city council can help areas like 49th St. grow by ensuring that businesses feel safe and have "good buildings". He agrees that more businesses are needed to spur economic development.

For more information

James Perry does not have a campaign manager. A website and Facebook page have not yet been set up. You can contact James Perry at his home at (727) 384-1807 or via email at jperry4council@aol.com.

Jennifer Salmon does not have a campaign manager. She does have a campaign website at www.electjennifersalmon.com. You may contact Jennifer Salmon at (727) 399-7746 or email her at Elect_Jennifer@tampabay.rr.com.

The citywide vote is Tuesday, March 13. For more information about the municipal elections, refer to the the city's website.

Gulfport Patch has a Ward Map with this story.