Damn Floridians

(For the full story)

When Hometown Political Action Committee Chairwoman Carol Wightman introduced the Key West mayoral candidates Monday night before almost 200 people at the Tropic Cinema, she wasn't concerned with making the position sound glamorous.

“It's a full-time job for $10,000 a year,” she said. “Now I ask you: Why would you want this job?”

The six candidates laughed and then readied themselves for the onslaught of questions from business owner Jon Allen, Community Housing Committee Chairman Richard Grusin and Solares Hill Editor Nancy Klingener.

Grusin asked Carie Noda what her vision is for Key West over the next 20 years. She explained she's traveled all over and feels Key West is the most beautiful city in the world, though she did not say specifically what direction she'd like the city to take.

Noda, a newcomer to the race, was born in Cuba and has lived in Key West since she was 6 months old. She emphasizes an effective disaster relief plan, something she says the current administration has ignored. She says she's worked as an American Red Cross executive director in New York and was designated a Red Cross international delegate. She was also a substance-abuse counselor and worked at social-service entities.

Incumbent Morgan McPherson said he'd like to “take that bumper sticker of ‘One Human Family' and make it a heartfelt truth.”

“Key West is a carnival,” candidate Sloan Bashinsky said. “I think we could do unbelievable things with the pirate theme,” touching on his proposal that Key West should exploit its connection to the infamous sailors of the Caribbean by dressing up its city workers or the homeless as pirates.

“Arrrrrgg,” said candidate and former Mayor Jimmy Weekley when asked to answer the same question. And then on a more serious note, “There has been rhetoric, but no performance,” adding that when he was mayor, the Duval Street T-shirt shops were “under control.”