Politics & Government

Starkey, Davis Take Seats on City Council

The two newcomers got down to business Tuesday, April 16 as incumbent council members gave up their seats.

Jeff Starkey and Chopper Davis took their seats on the New Port Richey City Council Tuesday, April 16.  

38, and Davis, 65, beat out five other contenders for a spot on the board in the April 9 election.

Mayor Bob Consalvo swore them in. Then the two outgoing city council members stepped down from their seats.

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One of those outgoing city council members was Rob Marlowe, who sat on the council six years. He chose not to run for re-election April 9.

The other was Bob Langford, who has several years as a councilmember under his belt. He initially said he was not going to run for re-election and then entered his name into the race.  

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He did not receive enough votes to keep a seat on the council.

As he left the dais Tuesday, Langford talked about how much he enjoyed working with the city during his time on council.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but mainly ups, and it has all been great,” he said.

Starkey and Davis bring business experience to the board. Davis has extensive experience in sales and is former owner of Jilly's bar in downtown New Port Richey. Starkey is owner of Great Florida Insurance. 

The two new council members appeared eager to get down to business.

The issue of crime was a tent pole of Starkey’s campaign, and he said Tuesday he would like the city consider a chronic nuisance ordinance that would give the city a tool to address problem motels.

He would like to see that come before the council and implemented “as soon as possible."

“We’re talking about redevelopment on U.S. 19, and yet we still have motels housing prostitutes and drug dealers right in front of our eyes when I drive home every day with my family,” Starkey said.

Interim city manager Susan Dillinger said the city is working on drafting that but also needs a special magistrate ordinance, which would create a supplemental code enforcement process for the city. She is working with the city of the St. Pete Beach to tackle how to handle that.

Davis also focused on the busy U.S. 19 corridor in his first meeting.

During an update from the Pasco Economic Development Council on its efforts to market the city, Davis talked about working with the Florida Department of Transportation on the redesign to the U.S. 19 corridor.

“We just need to identify New Port Richey on 19,” he said.


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