Dunedin voters elect new mayor and two city commissioners

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

But she's not an unfamiliar face to local politics.

City Commissioner Maureen "Moe" Freaney cruised to victory with 56% of the vote. She defeated fellow Commissioner John Tornga, who collected 33.7% of the vote, followed by John M. Shine's 9.97%.

Freaney will replace Julie Ward Bujalski, who was elected in 2014 and has termed out.

Freaney will be joined on the commission by Tom Dugard, who garnered 54% of the vote, besting Shane Warth for Seat 1, 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. She was elected to the City Commission in 2016 and works as a management consultant.

She has more than 31 years of professional and government experience. She was an assistant city manager for Dunedin, an assistant county administrator for 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 maintaining the special charm of Dunedin has always been one of the top concerns of residents.

"Slow, incremental and balanced growth is the key to this," she said. "The current City Commission has put in place many additional city code changes as well as an Architectural Review Board to help protect our charm. Dunedin is a very popular place and individuals have property rights, so it has, and will continue to be, an ongoing challenge to 'get it right.' I love the charm and vibe of Dunedin. It will always be my passion to protect it."

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

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

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

"We are experiencing a renaissance in new home construction and renovation. The cost of property and housing has twice doubled in the last 10 years. This has generated a gentrification of our quaint town, at the cost of community economic diversity," Dugard said.

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

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

"We need to make sure we have adequate resources in place for the impact of a natural disaster. Our history shows we have allowed rampant and aggressive development in our city. It's time to be more selective and strategic to future growth," he said.

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