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Heritage Isles CDD Mix Up Causes Votes

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

NEW TAMPA Some Heritage Isles homeowners won't be allowed to vote in the community development district races on Tuesday because their property addresses have not been added to the district map.

Larry Maahs and his wife, Janet, of Coral Key Avenue, discovered the omission when they received absentee ballots for the general election from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office. Their ballots did not include the Heritage Isles CDD races.

"I really feel disenfranchised," Larry Maahs said. "I've lived here a year and a half. Somebody dropped the ball."

CDD officials said 38 residential properties are affected on Coral Key Drive, Liberty Bell Drive, Saltwater Run Place and Lucaya Drive, an area of the development originally called the Spicola Tract.

Representatives from the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Office and Severn Trent Services, the company that manages the Heritage Isles CDD, said they are investigating to determine what happened.

District manager John Ricciardi said the 38 residences are officially in the CDD, and the homeowners are being assessed for fees set by the taxing authority.

"While the legal description of the CDD included the Spicola Tract, the map sent to the Supervisor of Elections Office did not include the tract," Ricciardi said.

"It's unfortunate that it occurred, but all parties are trying to get it cleared up."

Kathy Harris, Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson's chief of staff and legal counsel, said the elections office has no record of the affected property addresses being included in the CDD.

"There has never been anything provided to us changing the map," Harris said.

Maahs walked through the neighborhood Oct. 22 passing out copies of a letter he wrote to inform residents of the mix-up.

He was concerned no one knew about the problem before early voting began and angry he would not get to vote for candidates in the CDD races.

"I'm thankful for asking for the absentee ballot," Maahs said. "I got some forewarning."

Heritage Isles, which is in danger of defaulting on its bonds, will have choices in two of the three seats up for election. Neighborhood watch leader Barbara Adams is challenging incumbent Bill Martello. Incumbent Frank Camara faces former supervisor Jack Meehan, who resigned from his post in July but is still listed as a qualified candidate to run for election in November. Steve Stark, who ran unopposed, will serve another term.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842 or kknight@tampatrib.com.

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