New Regime To Be Sworn In at Commission Meeting Tonight

Following an eventful 2012, culminating with a holiday season full of festive community events, the city will ring in the New Year by introducing new-look city commission Monday night. 

Current commissioner and vice mayor Joe Ayoub will be installed as the new mayor of Safety Harbor, a move that was facilitated by outgoing mayor Andy Steingold’s decision to run for circuit court judge last summer. 

In addition to anointing the new mayor, Richard Blake will take over Ayoub’s vacant Commission Seat #1 after winning the November election over challengers Robert “Bobby” Saltzman and Ray R. Irvin.

“When Andy announced he was running (for judge) and he had to resign by January 7, we had a special election to see who would succeed him,” Ayoub told Patch recently.

“It was official for me on July 27 that I was going to be taking over because I didn’t have any opposition. If I had an opponent, I would’ve done the same thing as Rick and run in the November election.”

Blake, a local real estate agent who serves on the city’s planning and zoning board, handily won a hotly contested battle for Ayoub’s seat over Saltzman and Irvin in November.

With a platform promoting new development and revenue streams for Safety Harbor, Blake garnered 4,622 votes in the election; Irvin received 2,128 votes while Saltzman had 1,506 votes.

“I’m eager to get to work,” Blake said at the time.

In addition to the appointments and the naming of a new vice mayor, the meeting will address some important issues in the community, including the street light assessment budget and the waterfront park proposal. 

View the full agenda here.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at 750 Main St.