Mayor's Message 01/09/26 - 01/15/26

Dear Residents and Visitors,

Groundbreaking Ceremony

On Monday, January 5,the official groundbreaking for the Public Safety Storage Building named in honor of William J. Krajewski was held. This project was in part enabled by a generous donation by the JJ Gano Trust. Johanna Laidis Krajewski, widow of William J. Krajewski, was part of the Groundbreaking ceremonies and we sincerely thank her and appreciate the donation to enable us to add this facility to the Town of Indian Shores.

The building will be used for needed storage and protection of our Police and Town Public Safety equipment and other property. The expected completion of this facility is March 11, 2026.

Pinellas County Mayor’s Council January 7, 2026.

Speakers for the Mayor’s Council Meeting were members of the First Contact Organization, Sean Schrader, Board Member, and Micki Thompson, President First Contact who spoke during the meeting. Micki Thompson discussed the services that First Contact provides for people in need of essential services and how they connect them to trusted nonprofit organizations. Contact for these services are listed below.

211 Community Connections: Programs and services provided are calling 211 which is Community Connection 24/7 access to trained and certified professionals for those needing assistance navigating over 1,000 health and human services and programs. Services are available by dialing 211, texting your zip to firstcontact.com to 898211, chatting at www.firstcontact.org or emailing info@firstcontact.org.

988 Lifeline: (National Suicide Help Line) 24/7 free and confidential support and referrals to prevention and crisis resources for people in distress. Services are available by dialing or texting 988 or connecting with online chat at 988lifelineee.org.

To help citizens make an informed decision on who they will potentially vote for in the March 10, 2026, Indian Shores Municipal Election, a Meet the Candidates Forum is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, beginning with a Meet and Greet at 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by a Candidate Forum session conducted and moderated by the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This event is open to the public and will take place in the 4th Floor Community Center of Town Hall, located at 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, FL.

Candidates listed in alphabetical order by last name:

Ellen A. Bauer (incumbent Council Member)
Michael P. Howard (incumbent Council Member)
Michael A. (Mike) Petruccelli

Click sample ballot (pdf) to view.

Citizens may write their questions to the candidates on index cards provided at the event and give them to the Town Clerk or LWV members prior to the start of the 6:00 p.m. forum. Questions will be read aloud and the candidates will be provided time for replies. Alternatively, citizens may submit their questions by emailing them to flozano@myindianshores.com with "Candidate Question" in the subject line. Written questions may also be dropped off at the front desk located on the 3rd Floor of the Town Hall no later than 3:00 P.M. on February 2, 2026. Questions received in advance of the event will be submitted to the LWV.