Harper decides to sit out rest of term (2024)

Commissioner Charlie Harper, who abruptly withdrew Friday from the March 1 election, says he probably will be absent from commission meetings through the end of his term in office.

Harper, 60, said Friday he received results indicating he probably has leukemia, but would undergo more medical tests Monday.

Harper did not return calls seeking comment Monday, but he e-mailed an official statement of his withdrawal for Mayor Bob Jackson to read at tonight's meeting.

"The last three years was an honor and a privlidge (sic) for me to serve as a Largo City Commissioner," he says in the statement. "Personal health issues have now become a major issue with me, issues which I must dedicate time and total effort to resolving. To all those who have supported me so much, I offer my thanks and my continuing promise to always care about Largo and its people."

Harper wrote in another e-mail to a city staffer that he will not attend tonight's commission meeting and will probably be absent from all other meetings through the end of his term in office. Aside from tonight's meeting, there is one meeting and one work session scheduled this month.

Harper wrote that he plans to donate his commission pay from the month of February to the new Largo Library.

Harper said recently that the city investigated whether he spoke inappropriately to city employees and found he did nothing wrong.

Largo officials have refused to say whether Harper was cleared, or if there was even an investigation, saying they are barred from commenting by a state statute that protects alleged victims of employment discrimination, which includes sexual harassment among other offenses.

Last week, during a routine check of candidate credentials, the St. Petersburg Times asked the University of South Florida to confirm that Harper had a 1982 bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, as he stated in a 2002 candidate questionnaire submitted to the newspaper. Harper also told residents in a campaign flier that he had earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

USF could find no record that Harper had applied to, attended or graduated from the university _ even when the registrar's office was given his date of birth, middle initial and Social Security number.

Harper said Friday he did earn his degree at USF and that he would try to find his diploma, but that it was "the last thing on my mind."

Harper said that if he does have leukemia, he will have to undergo intense treatment for the next three or four months. He would be unable to handle the election and his job at Progress Energy at the same time, he said.

Harper's withdrawal from the race changes the dynamics of the upcoming March 1 election.

Rodney Woods, who observers say is probably the city's first black candidate for office, and Andrew Guyette, who ran unsuccessfully for the City Commission in 1995, are vying for Seat 2.

Guyette, 47, is a Honeywell engineer who has served on the finance and public works advisory boards.

Woods, 47, manages the fertilization and pest control division of a Dunedin landscaping company. He serves on the strategic planning and Martin Luther King Jr. committees.

Neither had raised any money in December, according to their campaign treasurer's reports, while Harper had raised $5,136.16. Of that amount, $2,000 was from four companies headed by Pinch-A-Penny founder Fred Thomas, a former Clearwater commissioner.

Woods said that although he's "not running against anybody," the change may swing things in his favor.

Still, he said, "I really looked forward to the commissioner and I having good, strong and open, honest debate."

Guyette said the developments might help him. "It changes it from trying to beat an incumbent to an open seat, which i think makes it a little easier on my part," he said.

The International Association of Firefighters Local 2427, which originally endorsed Harper, said Monday that it is backing Guyette. So is Mayor Bob Jackson. "I think Andy would be an outstanding commissioner," he said.

In the other commission race, three candidates _ Gigi Arntzen, Mary Gray Black and Joshua A. Lindsey _ are competing for Seat 1, currently held by Pat Burke, who is not seeking re-election.

Shannon Tan can be reached at shtansptimes.com or 445-4174.

CANDIDATE FORUMS

SATURDAY: 10 a.m., Panera Bread, 10801 Starkey Road. Sponsor: Christian Coalition of Pinellas County

MONDAY: 7 p.m. Royal Palms, 200 Lake Ave. NE. Sponsor: Palms of Largo.

FEB. 8: 11:30 a.m. East Bay Country Club, 702 Country Club Drive. Sponsor: Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce.

FEB. 12: 10:30 a.m., Largo Library, 351 East Bay Drive. Sponsor: Largo Civic Association

FEB. 16: 6:30 p.m., Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Ave. Sponsor: Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce.