On Nov. 8, Michael Smith became Largo's newest City Commissioner with nearly 54% of the vote, defeating Seat 1 incumbent Mary Gray Black.
Smith becomes the city's first openly gay commissioner and ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and a focus on public safety. Calls to reach him at his election night party were unsuccessful, but he was hopeful before the election that he would secure the seat on the commission. He said he focused on the issues and voters soon learned he was not pushing some kind of gay agenda.
â┚¬Å”I just explained that I'm running to improve the city and that I want what's best for this community,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”Like with most cities, Largo's biggest issue is its budget.â┚¬ÂÂ
But instead of slashing wildly at spending, Smith said he wanted to use a scalpel rather than an ax when slashing spending.
â┚¬Å”I think right now people think you have to cut left and right,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”But I'm a big supporter of public safety and I think you have to take care of that because it branches out into so many areas. If we have fewer firefighters or police, insurance rates go up and crime goes upâ┚¬Â¦and that leads to other issues.â┚¬ÂÂ
Smith rarely talked about his sexuality or his year-long relationship with his partner. The only time his sexuality was discussed at any length was when Black brought it up during an October town hall meeting, a tactic that may have fired. More than one person in attendance expressed disappointment.
â┚¬Å”I think that actually worked in our favor,â┚¬Â Smith said during North Pinellas Pride in Dunedin a few days after the incident. â┚¬Å”People are focused on real issues.â┚¬ÂÂ
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, had one simple statement about Black in an e-mail she sent to Watermark.
â┚¬Å”We sent an extremist packing,â┚¬Â she wrote, â┚¬Å”and elected a champion.â┚¬ÂÂ
In another unrelated Pinellas County race, out St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell held onto his District 5 seat with nearly 80% of the vote. He was unchallenged.
