SEBRING Mayor, challenger differ on downtown development

The incumbent said improving the downtown area will attract industry.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
SEBRING -- The two candidates running for Sebring mayor disagree on what direction the village should take.
Mayor Carl R. Mort Jr. said he is committed to continuing the village's downtown revitalization program because a strong downtown will attract people and businesses to Sebring.
The downtown project, which has already cost $1.5 million, includes a new underground electric system, sidewalks, curbs, and the purchase of property.
"The downtown was very old," Mort said. "If you want to attract industry and people, you need a good downtown and good schools. We have an excellent school system already."
But Mort acknowledges the weak economy has not led to any new industry in the village.
Former Councilman John W. Smith, his challenger, says the downtown development plan has cost the village a lot of money with few or no results. Also, the focus on the downtown has left the rest of the village ignored, Smith said.
For example, the annual street repaving program implemented in the early 1980s, when Smith was a member of village council, has been virtually stopped.
Aging infrastructure
Mort said the reason for that is the village first wants to make infrastructure improvements -- such as new water and sewer lines -- to the roads before repaving them. In the past, the village has had to tear up newly repaved roads because of infrastructure problems, he said.
The village has borrowed about $3 million for various projects in recent years. Smith said that is too high of a debt for such a small community, and if elected, he would focus on reducing the debt.
Mort doesn't see the debt as a problem.
"It's like when you need a new car, you borrow the money and when you've paid it off, you borrow again to buy another car," he said.
Mort automatically became the village's mayor in July 2002 when then-Mayor Daphne Cannell passed away. At the time, Mort was council's president pro tem, and had served about 18 months of his term. Mort also served on council from 1972 to 1975.
Smith last served on village council in 1997, opting not to seek re-election at the time. In all, Smith served 18 years on village council.
skolnick@vindy.com