Mike Wright
Two new faces are joining the Crystal River City Council.
Crystal River voters chose Gabrielle Satchell to succeed Ken Brown in Seat 1. In Seat 3, voters chose Chris Ensing over Mindi Mulvie Hastings.
Satchell, a Crystal River native, won easily in a three-candidate race with 42%. Benje Thomas and Larry Schenavar finished second and third, separated by just 18 votes.
Ensing won Seat 3 with 57%.
The two new Council members join the city when it’s recovering from two hurricanes over a four-week period, coping with the forced relocation of City Hall, and breaking in a new City Manager.
This technically was Hastings’ second run for City Council, though the first try never officially materialized.
The City Council had set a Special Election in March to fill the seat vacated by Pat Fitzpatrick’s death. The Council had appointed former City Manager Ken Frink to the position; both Frink and Hastings filed to run in the Special Election, but Frink bowed out to instead run for School Board.
That left Hastings winning the Special Election automatically. She was the lone incumbent.
A past member of the city’s Planning Commission and a 44-year resident of the city, Hastings said her focus was balancing services between residents and tourists.
Ensing is a 30-year Crystal River builder and real estate developer. He’s been Vice Chair of the former Community Redevelopment Agency Board, Chair of the Unsafe Structures Appeals Board, and a Director of the Crystal River Main Street Board.
In Seat 1, Satchell is a Crystal River native and 2012 graduate of Crystal River High School. A family nurse practitioner, Satchell focused on an alternative voice.
“We need fresh ideas to ensure our water quality is protected, our infrastructure can support future development, and our local businesses can thrive,” she said.
Schenavar, an information technology consultant, has experience on the city Planning Commission, Waterfronts Advisory Board, and Save Crystal River, the organization spearheading the removal of invasive plants from Kings Bay.
Schenavar had one specific proposal: Annual residential permits to provide free access to Three Sisters Springs, area parking and boat ramps.
Thomas, a lifelong resident, is the semi-retired owner of two Crystal River businesses. His platform included management of King’s Bay, finding solutions to the City Hall challenge, and smart growth.
