Three candidates vie for two Seminole City Council seats

Elections in the city of Seminole will determine the composition of the local council on November 3. Three candidates are competing for two open seats. The race pits incumbent Ray Beliveau and Kadi Hendricks Tubbs against political newcomer Mike Lurie. All three candidates recently answered a series of questions regarding their backgrounds, policy priorities, and views on the city’s fiscal future.

Seminole currently operates with a millage rate that Lurie describes as among the lowest in Pinellas County. The city faces specific infrastructure debts, including an aging stormwater system and a recreation center that requires replacement. The council is also planning for a new fire station in the Bay Pines area. These projects compete for funds in a budget that Tubbs notes must balance rising costs with limited revenue sources.

Ray Beliveau has resided in Seminole for over 38 years. A Navy veteran and mechanical engineer, he worked in manufacturing before retiring to community service. Beliveau served as president of the Seminole Fire Rescue Community Emergency Response Team and currently holds the position of first vice president for the Suncoast League of Cities. He cites his engineering background as a tool for managing city projects with a focus on cost and schedule efficiency.

Mike Lurie has lived in Seminole for 47 years, excluding his college years. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1997 and earned a degree in computer and information science from Florida State University. Lurie founded an IT company in 2001, which he sold in 2016. He now manages a family business in commercial real estate rentals, reporting an occupancy rate exceeding 90 percent. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Seminole during the 2024 hurricane season.

Kadi Hendricks Tubbs has lived in Seminole since 1978. She holds a degree from Troy University and has worked as a real estate broker, property manager, and television news reporter. Tubbs currently serves as the president of Operation: Military Matters, a nonprofit that has shipped over 14,000 care packages to deployed service members. She was appointed to the council in March of this year.

The candidates identify stormwater management as the primary immediate challenge. Beliveau points to an old and undersized system that requires funding through fees and grants. Tubbs emphasizes the need to balance infrastructure repairs with public safety costs. Lurie views disaster preparedness as critical, specifically regarding infrastructure hardening for future hurricanes.

Longer term, the candidates focus on maintaining local control and managing state mandates. Lurie warns that the state legislature is reducing local authority and introducing unfunded mandates. He argues for a one size fits all approach to be rejected in favor of municipal decision making. Tubbs highlights the need to responsibly manage community investments, including the Veterans Circle of Honor and the Repetto property.

The potential passage of Amendment 3 presents a specific financial threat. Beliveau suggests the city may need to shift the tax burden from homeowners to all residents through non-ad valorem fees for services like waste collection and parking. He also proposes possible cuts to library hours and park availability. Lurie states the city has a plan to reduce nonessential services to protect policing and fire rescue budgets. Tubbs argues for careful examination of spending and the pursuit of grants to offset revenue losses.