Rick Blake Settles Into Downtown Safety Harbor

To say Rick Blake has been busy the past several months would be a huge understatement. 

The real estate broker and former Planning and Zoning Board member was elected to the Safety Harbor City Commission in November and was sworn in to office in January. 

The month before, Blake’s wife Katie gave birth to the couple’s first child, Olivia, and in January Blake moved his brokerage office from the Boot Ranch area to 500 Main St. in downtown Safety Harbor. 

So how is Blake handling all these major life changes? With his typical calm and cool demeanor, of course.

“It’s been awesome,” he said when asked about all the adjustments he’s had to make. 

Safety Harbor Patch recently sat down with Commissioner Blake to gauge just how "awesome" these adjustments have been, and how he likes living and working in the heart of downtown Safety Harbor. 

You’ve been elected commissioner, become a father and relocated your business, all since November. How have you handled all of these changes?

It’s been great. I moved back to Safety Harbor, where I grew up, three years ago and I had my office in Palm Harbor. But after taking office in January, I wanted my work to be closer to city hall. So I relocated my brokerage here on Main Street; now I’m closer to my two jobs as well as my family, which has made the transition a lot easier.

Speaking of family, how does it feel to be a father for the first time, and how do you fit that part of your life in with your professional life? 

Being a dad is awesome. Olivia has been the best part of all this change. She is my number one priority. Now that I have my office in town, I am able to see her a lot more often. On the night of commission meetings, I can sneak out of here early and see her before I have to be at City Hall.

How do you like having two jobs downtown? 

I love being in the heart of Safety Harbor. It’s such a terrific community, with a thriving business district. I have a great relationship with my neighbors, Jared (Carter of Move Forward Fitness) and Tricia (Farley of Tricia’s Tribute). Plus it’s allowed me to spend more time at home.

Now that you mentioned your neighbors, I heard you’re doing a fitness program with Jared.

To help raise money for the St Baldrick's Foundation during the Chop Shop's charity event last month, Jared was raffling a 12-week personal training package, and I won.

We started our training sessions a couple of weeks ago and it has been great. He's a lot of fun to work out with and he received his degree in nutrition, so I know he's conscious of my health as well as my strength and stamina.  He's putting me on a better diet and we are working out 3 times a week. I can feel the results already and I look forward to the days I get to meet with him to work out. 

How has all of this change affected you on a personal and professional level? 

Each one of the positions adds value to the other. Having an office downtown allows me to relate to local business owners. Being a parent allows me to understand the priorities of the families in town. And being a commissioner allows me to consider all these factors when I’m making decisions that will affect the community.

I’m getting my feet wet on the commission, and we’re just coming into the nuts & bolts of city government as we get into the budget discussions. But at the end of the day, Olivia allows me to put all that aside and just have fun being a dad.

Related:

• Richard Blake Wins Race For Safety Harbor City Commissioner
• Joe Ayoub Sworn In As New Mayor of Safety Harbor
• Meet The Candidate: Richard “Rick” Blake

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