Janelle Irwin Taylor
Dunedin Vice Mayor Heather Gracy announced she is running to become Dunedin’s next Mayor this November. She’ll face incumbent Mayor Julie Ward Bulalski.
Gray is a second-term City Commissioner, first elected in 2012. She was appointed Vice Mayor in 2014 and again in 2019.
“I’m excited to launch our campaign for Mayor. The outpouring of support has been humbling and our campaign is poised to capture on the enthusiasm for fresh leadership at City Hall,” Gracy said. “For years I’ve served Dunedin and demonstrated the ability to bring people together to unite under the common goal of leaving our city better off for our children and grandchildren.”
Gracy currently serves as the city’s liaison to the Dunedin Scottish Arts Foundation. She also served as the president of the Suncoast League of Cities from 2017-2019 and is a current member of the Florida League of Cities and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
In her role as Vice Mayor, Gracy also provides monthly city updates to the Dunedin Beach Civic Association.
“Dunedin’s potential is limitless, but to meet the opportunities and challenges on the horizon we need leaders who will focus on the shared vision of Dunedin residents and reverse course on the mismanagement of the past,” Gracy said.
Gracy will have her work cut out for her running against a longtime incumbent. Bujalski is serving her second term as Mayor after being elected in 2014. Before that she served on the City Commission, including two terms as Vice Mayor, since 2006.
In her announcement, Gracy appeared to suggest the city was ripe for new leadership and took a swipe at Bujalski.
“Our campaign will put residents back in control of their local government and common sense back into our guiding principles. Gone will be the days where residents are slapped with exorbitant fines they cannot afford. No more will Dunedin taxpayers shoulder the burden of paying the legal costs of political battles. And no longer will we allow personal ambition to get in the way of doing what’s right for the residents of Dunedin,” Gracy wrote.
So far the Mayor and Vice Mayor are the only candidates filed for the November race. The city’s qualifying period for the election begins July 13 and runs through July 27.
One comment
Ron Senner
February 19, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Thank God!
How to defeat the corrupt, incompetent Mayor.
1. Allow Homeowners to use AirBnB short term rentals
2. Simplify the building permit process
3. Cap building permit costs at $100.00
4. Cap code fines at $10.00 per day
5. Training City Employees to be polite and RESPECTFUL to Homeowners
6. Use volunteer crossing guards along the Pinellas Bike Trail at Skinner Rd
7. Better signage on the Trail so Tourists know what side to be in
8. Get kids jobs by cleaning up chronic code violators at Owner’s expense
9. NO CARS allowed on Main St Downtown! Only Golf Carts, bikes and the Trolly
10. Legalization of marijuana. Challenge the State
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