Council hopefuls discuss variety of issues
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008  |
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| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| City council candidates Edward Kosinski and Patricia Macfarlane examine plans for a used car lot on 66th Street as former Mayor Cecil Bradbury, in checkered shirt, and Randy Heine, also a council candidate, in foreground, listen to presentation. |
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PINELLAS PARK – A candidate for the City Council on Jan. 10 was the latest to voice opposition to a sign on 66th Street that advertises a “gentlemen’s club” with a photo of a nearly-nude woman.
Patricia Macfarlane, who is one of six candidates running for the seat of Councilwoman Patricia Bailey-Snook, asked city officials to do something about it.
“It is not good for families or children to see, and it is not good for the city,” Macfarlane said.
Mayor Bill Mischler, who also voiced opposition to the sign, said it was installed on Dec. 28. He said by the next day phone calls and e-mails were pouring into City Hall.
Mischler said since the property is located in unincorporated Pinellas County there is nothing city officials can do.
“I have been in contact with Pinellas County commissioners who are looking into the legal aspects of the sign,” Mischler said.
Mischler said he believes that the sign cannot be outlawed because it falls under the U.S. Constitution’s free speech doctrine.
Councilwoman Sandra Bradbury said the business has every right to display the sign.
“By law we are unable to ask the business to remove it,” Bradbury said.
Bradbury said she hopes that the owners might spray paint the sign so that the photo is not as revealing.
Two other candidates were present at the council meeting. Edward Kosinski and Randy Heine, who also are running for Bailey-Snook’s seat in the March elections, spoke up on various issues.
Heine complained about illegal signs in the city and displayed a number of photographs he has taken. Kosinski took issue with a proposal to built a used car lot at 9402 66th St., but later rescinded his opposition when the developer agreed to pave the parking lot.
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Article published on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008
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