Email: william.mansell@patch.com	
Phone: 941-387-6494
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Birthday: 03/04/1986
Bio: William Mansell was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri where he developed his love for journalism reading the Kansas City Star. His dream job was to be cover sports for a living. After high school, William decided to pursue journalism in college. He attended and obtained and Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.
At the Columbia Missourian, William was a sports reporter, copy editor and web editor. It was while working for the Missourian that William learned he loved all facets of journalism. From there, William moved to Sarasota in September 2009 and became a reporter with the Pelican Press. In March of 2010, William expanded his role in journalism by entering the management field. He became the editorial director of Home Renovation Magazine in Orlando while continuing to live and report in Sarasota.
In his spare time William enjoys watching the Mizzou Tigers, listening to music and playing basketball. William wishes Kansas City BBQ was available in Florida.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
My political beliefs do not fall to the left or right. If I ever strike up a conversation about politics, I usually end up playing devil's advocate. I'm a firm believer in common sense and doing what's right for the greatest amount of people.
Are you registered with a certain party?
I am not registered with any party nor will I probably ever be. Both sides are wrong more then right.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I'm a believer in Christ, faith and the Bible, but not in religion. I think religion tends to divide people. Looking at the world's wars, struggle and conflicts, differences in religion are almost always at the heart of the disagreement.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Budgets and Schools. While these issues are nationwide problems, budgets and our school systems always bring about the most debate. Property values have fallen drastically and local municipalities and governments have been left with a smaller pool of money. Government entities are faced with either raising taxes or making drastic cuts.
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
When people and the community are struggling financially, that is not the time raises taxes. Governments should try to make financial decisions with the people in mind first, not special interests or projects.
Using a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the project includes installation of interconnected solar photovoltaic panels at 18 city parks and recreational sites.
Each week, St. Pete Patch features an adoptable pet of the week from Pet Pal Animal Shelter.
If the promoters are not successful in their fundraising effort, the downtown YMCA building faces demolition.
Firefighters have been collecting clothes, new undergarments, canned food, water, baby supplies and toiletries every day since Monday, Nov. 5.
What are you doing this weekend, St Pete? Cirque du Soleil's Kooza? Weezer? Ribfest? Second Saturday Artwalk? Romeo and Juliet?
Detectives estimate that equipment totaling approximately $100,000 in value have been taken over the course of this pattern of thefts, a news release said.
The St. Pete based polling outfit released results of its surveys compared to the actual election results.
GOP Congressman Bill Young won re-election Tuesday night, but still faces criticism from the Florida Consumer Action Network.
While many city buildings will be closed in honor of Veterans Day, trash pickup throughout the city will go on as scheduled.
The petitioner’s lawsuit against the city and City Council will be held Dec. 5 from 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. at the courthouse in downtown St. Petersburg.
Cedric F. Gordon wrote a heartfelt letter to the community for showing support after his daughter, Brittany Gordon, was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has turned an old Brinks armored truck and turned it into a surveillance truck designed to be a crime deterrent.
The child was found by his nanny, after he apparently wandered from his family's home to a neighbor's pool.
GOP Congressman Bill Young won re-election Tuesday night, but still faces criticism from the Florida Consumer Action Network.
Democratic challengers Janet Long and Charlie Justice have defeated Republican incumbents Nancy Bostock and Neil Brickfield.
Gualtieri, appointed interim sheriff in 2011, easily beat Democratic challenger Scott Swope in Tuesday's election.
Voting lines in St. Petersburg began to thin out as the 7 p.m. deadline to vote neared.
Patch stopped by three polling places early Tuesday morning to see if the rain was affecting turnout.
Early voting numbers in Pinellas County have helped bolster Democratic turnout to lead Republicans in ballots cast before election day.
The 29-year-old St. Petersburg man was trying to cross 16th Street near Central late Saturday night when he was hit by the SUV.
