Two candidates qualify for High Springs special election

High Springs voters will choose between Wayne Bloodsworth Jr. and Chad Howell to fill the final City Commission seat at a special election on March 26.  

Bloodsworth and Howell submitted their information during the qualifying period that ended at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Bloodsworth has a Facebook page for the campaign. 

The special election comes after former Commissioner Steve Tapanes resigned in December after less than two months on the commission. Tapanes surpassed incumbent Commissioner Gloria James in the October election by 249 votes. 

But according to his resignation letter, Tapanes was unaware of a new Florida law requiring more extensive financial disclosures than in the past. He said business associates and family members were uncomfortable with their information being included and freely available online.  

“I am left feeling like I let down those citizens that voted for me, but hope they understand that my family’s security is number one,” Tapanes said in the letter.    

Both polling locations, the High Springs Civic Center for Precinct 20 and First United Methodist Church for Precinct 60, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 26. For more information on the election, visit the city of High Springs website.  

The resignation forced a special election as High Springs searches for a new city manager and navigates tough finances.  

City Manager Ashley Stathatos submitted her resignation in November. She will stay with the city through the end of February. The City Commission selected their top five candidates to replace Stathatos at its Jan. 25 meeting. 

At Thursday’s meeting, the commission discussed implementing a hiring freeze except for emergency positions. Commissioner Andrew Miller made the motion, but it failed after no one seconded. Mayor Katherine Weitz asked signaled that she would have seconded the motion if allowed. The mayor isn’t allowed to make or second motions.  

The city raised property taxes last year as predictions showed incomes were not keeping up. High Springs was also hit with higher waste service charges than expected, forcing raised rates for the services.