MEXICO BEACH — Politics can be distasteful, but the behavior of the Mexico Beach City Council over the past couple of years was so “childish” it surpassed distasteful and inspired Tom Bailey to run for office, he said.
Bailey could have run for any of the three seats up for grabs this election, but he chose the seat held by the council member he would most like to see off the council: Tanya Castro.
“I thought she was the most disruptive and the most radical points of view on the council,” Bailey aid.
Several attempts to interview Castro for this report were unsuccessful. In an email response to a News Herald questionnaire, Castro said she has worked tirelessly to keep the government of Mexico Beach “in the sunshine,” put citizens first and stand against the status quo.
Bailey also sees the construction of a new City Hall as the most important issue facing the next council, and if he’s given the chance he’ll make it his first priority to see the project rebid.
It’s been more than two years since the city awarded a contract to Cathey Construction, in which Mayor Al Cathey has an interest, but the company only recently gave the city an estimate of what the project would cost.
“I’m absolutely opposed to the way it’s been handled so far,” Bailey said. “This business of an open contract and all that — I’m absolutely opposed to all that. … This is the people’s money.”
Bailey disagrees with Castro’s contention that Mexico Beach has a stormwater problem and needs to improve its infrastructure. Castro called it a “critical need for the community,” but Bailey said there is no problem. He said even during the historic rains last summer there were few problems with standing water.
He’s more interested in maintaining and developing the city’s canal as well as its docking and wharfing systems.
Castro often has been at odds with the mayor and other members of the council, and two ranking members of city staff, former City Manager Chris Hubbard and former City Clerk Debbie McLeod, cited their dealings with her as part of the reason for their resignations.
“That’s what I call creating a hostile work environment,” Bailey said.
When Hubbard resigned last month, Castro thanked him for resigning and called his time with the city a “fundamental failure of leadership.” As a former city manager himself, Bailey said, Hubbard’s performance would’ve earned a B-minus from a high school teacher.
Bailey said he found Castro’s comments offensive but not surprising.
One thing Bailey learned as a city manager, he said, is to listen to people, even those who differ from him.
“If it taught me nothing else, you’ve got to let everybody have a say,” Bailey said. “The citizens are going to decide. Win or lose, I’m not going to change where I live, and I’m not going to change my perspective on things, and I’ll probably run again.”