Meet Bob Langford, City Council Candidate

In advance of the April 9 election, candidates running for New Port Richey City Council answered Patch's questions about their campaigns.

There are two city council seats up for grabs. There are seven candidates vying to join the council.

Candidate Bob Langford told us a little about himself and his stance on city issues in an e-mail interview.

Langford, 70, is a current councilmember and is running for re-election.  He touts a long career in the music business, during which he played in bands, sang and later worked as a manager, producer and recording engineer. He is now retired but still works. He owns Tubs Music, a recording studio and production facility in New Port Richey. He also does music publishing and production for his independent record label and for others.

Langford is a widower with three children. He has been involved with a lengthy list of local organizations, including AMI Kids Pasco, the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Council Juvenile, the West Pasco Historical Society, Leadership Pasco, New Port Richey Public Library board and many more.

The following is a (mostly) unedited Q&A Patch participated in with the candidate over e-mail.

Why is Langford running?

Here’s what he says:

To continue making a positive difference in our City.

Langford on His Qualifications

Patch: What makes you the best candidate for City Council? 

Langford: Experience, leadership and community involvement

Patch: What makes you a good steward of taxpayer money?

Langford:  Experience in dealing with 9 different years of budgets, last year being the most difficult. Leadership and the capacity to work well with my colleagues.

Langford on the Issues

Patch: What are the top 3 priorities of your campaign? 

Langford: Reducing crime, economic development and recovery for not just the downtown area but the neighborhoods as well and improving the overall quality of life to the folks that reside in New Port Richey.  Addressing economic redevelopment without raising taxes or fees.  

Patch: Redevelopment continues to be a major issue for the city.  What would you want to change to spur redevelopment? 

Langford: We're in the process of that right now, working with the Pasco Economic Development Council and the county plan for "The Harbors West Market Area (WMA)", contractors building medium and up owner occupied houses.  Any and all things that would promote owner occupied houses over rentals.  It's not just downtown, as I said above, it's the neighborhoods too.

Patch: What’s the biggest barrier private employers doing business in the city or wanting to move here face that can be changed locally?  What can you do to remove it?

Langford:  The biggest barrier seems to be the lack of knowing what needs be done to conduct business in a particular location.  Our codes and land uses are being addressed to simplify this process.  Also, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Port Richey Main Street organizations could help ease the process by aiding newcomers to the area by having this information available.  This is already in the works and should simplify permitting, fees and understanding exactly what's needed to start a business here.

Patch: What is the biggest issue New Port Richey neighborhoods face and how would you tackle it?

Langford: Absentee ownership.  This creates code enforcement problems and criminal problems and we are presently working on an ordinance addressing nuisance properties.  This is a good start.  Also working with county programs, grants and other available aid that as it becomes available.  Home ownership a necessity.

Patch: What ideas do you have for helping the Recreation and Aquatic center raise its revenue?

Langford:  This is being addressed by hiring a person to work with the Parks and Recreation Director now.  We've received work that has passed along several ideas that we are yet to work on.  Also, seek out other resources that have worked through this same problem.  The Interim City Manager and I met such a person and hopefully after the election we can all sit down and discuss how that problem was turned around.  That project, by the way, is much bigger than ours but the same ideas can be applied.

Patch: How would you tackle the crime and public safety issues in the city? 

Langford: Put more officers in the street, especially at night.  Use the police as police not as "red light checkers".  We just OK'ed the manpower to handle this.

Should the city continue its Animal Protection Unit?  Should it be moved to another department?  I can't comment on this as it's still in front of the City Council.

Langford on Leadership

Patch: What makes you a good leader?   

Langford: My dedication to being fair and honest in everything I'm charged with.  The ability to work with others to come to a solution.

Patch: Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you or your campaign?  

Langford: I've served the City for a total of nine years so far.  I'm in for the long haul, as I will be "termed out" after this election.  I have no learning curve to go through and I feel this is very important so we can continue to get the City back on track.  We used to have a "parking problem", I want that back!  When we go through the budget it will be easier as my experience will aid the Council to come to dicisions more quickly.

Check back with Patch for more on Langfords' and other candidates' thoughts on specific topics in the coming days.

Want to meet the candidates in person?

Come to New Port Richey Patch's Candidate Forum and hear them talk about their campaigns at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, at New Port Richey City Hall, 5919 Main St.