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Dunedin voters elect new mayor and two city commissioners

Harry November 7, 2024

For the first time in 10 years, the city of Dunedin will have a new mayor.

However, he is not a foreign face to local politics.

City Commissioner Maureen “Moe” Freaney cruised to victory with 56% of the vote. He defeated fellow Commissioner John Tornga, who garnered 33.7% of the vote, followed by John M. Shine with 9.97%.

Freaney will replace Julie Ward Bujalski, who was elected in 2014 and left office.

Freaney will be joined on the commission by Tom Dugard, who won Seat 1 over Shane Warth with 54% of the vote, and Steven R. Sandbergen, who won Seat 3 over Kate Spangler with 55% of the votes cast.

Freaney, 68, has lived in Dunedin for 40 years. He was elected to the City Commission in 2016 and works as a management consultant.

He has more than 31 years of professional and public experience. He served as assistant city manager in Dunedin, deputy county administrator in Pinellas County, director of Pinellas County Health and Human Services and director of Animal Services.

In a previous interview with Tampa Bay Newspapers, Freaney said preserving Dunedin’s special charm has always been one of residents’ top concerns.

“Slow, gradual and balanced growth is the key to this,” he said. “The current City Commission has implemented an Architectural Review Board as well as many additional city code changes to help preserve our charm. Dunedin is a very popular destination and individuals have property rights, so there is and will continue to be an ongoing challenge of ‘getting it right’ .I love the charm and vibe of Dunedin and preserving it will always be my passion.”

Dugard, 74, is married and has lived in Dunedin for nine years.

He has a master’s degree in public administration. He spent 30 years as United Way CEO in five cities, ending in Kansas City. Dugard has 10 years of experience as a leadership trainer, coach and strategic planning consultant.

Dugard told Tampa Bay Newspapers that the biggest challenge facing the city is learning how to deal with its success.

“We are experiencing a renaissance in new home construction and remodeling. The cost of real estate and housing has doubled in the last 10 years. This has led to the gentrification of our quaint town at the expense of the economic diversity of the community,” Dugard said.

The winner of Seat 3, Sandbergen, 60, is retired and married with three children. He says he has lived in the city for more than 40 years and is involved in the community as a member of the Local Planning Agency, the Dunedin Stadium Advisory Committee, president of the Greater Dunedin Little League and a contributor to the original golf cart planning. committee.

He said managing development is one of the biggest challenges facing the city.

“We must ensure that we have adequate resources to counter the impact of a natural disaster. Our history shows that we have allowed excessive and aggressive development in our city. “It’s time to be more selective and strategic for future growth,” he said.

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