Petitioners Eye 2013 Elections

Due to demand from residents, Frank Verdino and volunteers are moving forward with gathering signatures to add a referendum question on the March 2013 ballot.

Here is the "question" listed on the petition:

We, the undersigned registered electors of the city of Gulfport, Pinellas County Florida find that it is in the public interest to amend the Charter of the City of Gulfport, Florida to make: i) The Gulfport Police Department a chartered Department.

Verdino turned in more than 950 signatures on Nov. 10, but learned on Nov. 17 that more than 400 signatures were invalid. It was far short of the 862 needed.

Verdino says the goal was to allow voters to decide whether or not to outsource dispatch. But, they were unable to meet the minimum requirements.

"A lot of people were counting on us. We had expected some little problems, that's why we handed in more than the minimum amount," Verdino said.

How could that have saved the dispatch center?

In a previous story, Verdino explained that he and his supporters believe, after receiving legal council, that by adding the Gulfport Police Department as a chartered department, any "major changes," such as outsourcing communications, would have to be decided by a public vote, not a vote by the Gulfport City Council.

Why move forward?

"Nobody wants to see dispatch go, but we lost that chance. Now, the biggest concern is, let's not let the Police Department be next," Verdino said.

He says some fear that if city leaders choose to outsource dispatch to save money, they may do the same with the Gulfport Police Department. If that were to be considered, Verdino says, at least residents would have the final say, via public vote.

Are the signatures still valid?

Verdino says according to the Gulfport City Clerk, the valid signatures are good for two years. So, the group has between now and November 2012 to collect at least 360 valid signatures. It could possibly be more depending on the number of registered voters in this coming election.

City Clerk Lesley Demuth says to get a referendum on the ballot you need 10 percent of the registered voters in Gulfport from the last city elections.

As of the March 2011 municipal elections, there were 8,619 registered voters in Gulfport. If that increases in March 2012, then the required minimum does as well.