FORT PIERCE — Questions about how to revitalize the local economy, the future of Fort Pierce Utilities Authority are among chief concerns for voters entering Tuesday’s Fort Pierce City Commission elections for District 1 and District 2.

In District 1, R. “Duke” Nelson is hoping to return to the City Commission by defeating incumbent Rufus Alexander. In District 2, incumbent Christine Coke faces three challengers: Curtis Boyd, Tom Perona and Rick Reed. District 1 primarily includes citizens west of U.S. 1 and north of Delaware Avenue as well as those along northern Okeechobee Road. District 2 primarily includes citizens south of Delaware Avenue along with those east of U.S. 1 as well as those south of Okeechobee Road.

Unemployment was at 15.3 percent in the county in September, according to the state’s Agency for Workforce Innovation. High unemployment combined with foreclosure rates have led voters to search for elected officials to come up with smart solutions to fix the problems while managing a budget diminished by a 17.4 percent decline in local property values.
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STUART — Voters deciding this year’s race for the Stuart City Commission Group II seat will choose between a political newcomer promising fresh ideas and an incumbent with some 20 years of commission experience.

Jeffrey Callahan, a Martin County marine safety officer/emergency medical technician entered the political arena this year to challenge incumbent Jeffrey Krauskopf, who will be seeking his 13th term as a city commissioner.

Voters head to the polls for this year’s general election Tuesday, but early voting and mail-in ballots already have been cast. Early voting for city residents continues until 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office, 135 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Stuart.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009

STUART — The city this week continued assembling pieces of the purchase package for Arthur’s Dockside Waterfront Restaurant property adjacent to City Hall, acquiring $1 million in financing and further negotiating the final price.

The City Commission inked a contract for the property in early December that established a maximum purchase price of just more than $4.4 million for the last piece of riverfront property north of St. Lucie Avenue not under city control.

Since that time, primary emphasis has centered on negotiating down more than $4 million in liens and claims against the property. The outcome of those dealings will determine how much the city ultimately pays for the property.

On Monday, city commissioners approved a $3.85 million price cap for the deal. However, as of Tuesday, City Attorney Paul Nicoletti said the encumbrances hovered just below $4 million.

Because of the ongoing negotiations with lien holders, the city obtained a three-week extension until March 20 to conclude its pre-sale inspection and set a new
closing date of April 3.
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