Kenneth City council member hijacks Pinellas Park mayor's golf cart

KENNETH CITY  -- Parades are known for fun and spectacle but sometimes the more interesting show is the one behind the scenes. That was true of Kenneth City's Fourth of July parade where pre-parade mischief highlighted the deep political divide on the Town Council, engulfed the Pinellas Park mayor and prompted two Kenneth City council members to apologize for the highjinks.

At the center was Pinellas Park's golf cart, which that municipality shipped over to Kenneth City for Mayor Bill Mischlerand his council members to ride in while tossing beads to the crowd. But when Mischler went to look for the cart, it was gone.

Kenneth City council member Al Carrier had taken it to pick up former Mayor Muriel Whitman who was soundly defeated in last March's election by Teresa Zemaitis as part of a sweep that removed the old guard from office. Carrier, who supported Whitman, is the last remaining member of the old guard on the Kenneth City council.

Mischler hitched a ride to the parade's start and found Carrier and Whitman in the cart. The two didn't budge, but they did generously offer to let Mischler ride with them in Mischler's cart. Mischler declined and watched the parade from the sidelines.

It's unclear if any paradegoers wondered why Carrier and Whitman were perched in a vehicle that proclaimed them to be Pinellas Park officials. Two Kenneth City council members - Zemaitis and Wanda Dudley- were upset enough about the happenings to call Mischler and apologize.

Mischler declined to comment, saying only that he is not angry, has no hard feelings and loves Kenneth City.

Anne Lindberg, Times staff writer

Comments

[Stuck in the Middle (Lealman)]

Fortunatly these two superpowers don't have nukes.
Much credit to Bill Mischler on this incident.

[Russ]

Apparently Carrier and Whitman both are suffering DEMESIA !

Further proof that Carrier is having problems with his LOGIC CHIP surfaced at the last council meeting. He voted NOT to accept putting the issue of wording in our charter to a vote, which was part of the Mayor Pro Tems deal with KC. He voted YES at the first vote on this item but now apparently is confused!

We all get old and may face the same problems these folks do. It is nothing to be embarrassed about or made fun of, just part of the natural aging process.

I have seen this before on our council, where councilman Gene Kouns voted against his OWN motion and no matter how much explanation was given him, he stuck to his guns. There were too many other cases to go into here, but I think the voters got tired of this kind of antics and voted in younger folks who can remember where they parked their cars!

So don't make fun of these poor folks, just vote them out of office.

We all may face what condition they are in or worse when we get as old as them!

However Carrier should be given citations for vehicle theft and driving an unlicensed vehicle on the roadways.

Also Mr Carrier has demonstrated that he has mental issues and should either resign from council or be removed by the council.

Someone needs to explain to Muriel that she is NO LONGER Mayor!

Thank you Wanda and Teresa for offering your apology on our behalf!

[Golf Cart Man]

I think that Kenneth City needs to reimburse the City of Pinellas Park for the Golf Cart rental since some delusional pair of elders, one on council and one who thinks she is still mayor, decided to take it for a spin.

[Informed]

I think this action on Carrier's part, in addition to his refusal to vote to put the referendum on the ballot at the last meeting, shows that he is really not capable of performing his job. He is an embarrassment to Kenneth City. How he complain about spending money on an attorney for the election mess? He was one of the people who voted to do that! And how can he vote "no" for the referendum when it is a manadatory part of the settlement agreement between the town and Zemaitis? He is just too ignorant to comprehend such matters and should step down.
When a councilmember's report amounts to nothing more than reading off some numbers submitted by a city employee and then giving the residents an Inconvenient Truth 101 lecture that anyone with a half a brain already knows, it is obvious that it is time to get someone new who will actually work on pertinent issues relating to the town.

[Jack]

Hats off to the Mayor of Pinellas Park for not making a big deal over this. And to you Mr. Carrier, why don't you invite Muriel on a nice long retirement trip. Maybe Mischler will let you borrow the golf cart!

[sr kc]

Mr. Carrier I feel it is time that you apologize to the mayor of Pinellas Park. You need to stop holding the hand of your security blanket Muriel. Except the fact that your mindless chatter that you speak at the meetings is being laughed at everytime you open your mouth. Ever since you have been on council you have created problems by running your mouth and telling fictions about others that have been on council to keep the attention off yourself Now you are the lone ranger up there by yourself and all of the negativety that your bring is focused on yourself IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STEP DOWN FROM COUNCIL SO YOU CAN SAVE WHATEVER DIGNITY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT or just set up there and keep you mouth shut If anyone knows I do we know you won't apologize because you are to stubborn and ignorant Teresa and Wanda Thank You for standing up for the City You both are great
Al if you wanted to ride a golf cart so bad move to a trailer park where you can ride them on the streets and not have to take it from the Mayor of Pinellas Park

[Zen Master]

Considering KC is about the size of a dropped napkin it's amazing how much they get into the news for their "wild and crazy" hi-jinks. What would we do without them? They do bring a certain entertainment value to the county.

[awhitewolf]

...luvs this...this is great...*G*...

[Sharon]

Bill Mischler is a class act.

[Ted]

It’s a good thing that there were no bridges along the parade route, it could have been Chappaquiddick all over again!

[pops]

WHITMAN IS A SORE LOSER AND DIDN'T BELONG IN THE PARADE AND CARRIER WILL BE OUT NEXT ELECTION. MEANWHILE THE SHOULD BOTH BE ARRESTED. THE KEYSTONE COPS WON'T DO IT . THEY ARE BUSY AT CONEY ISLAND ALL DAY.