PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The City of Port Richey officially has a mayor again — attorney Scott Tremblay.
- Residents to vote for new Port Richey mayor
- Polls open until 7 p.m. Tuesday
- RELATED:
Port Richey held a special election Tuesday to fill the role of mayor which has been left open following back-to-back controversies.
Tremblay won the election by collecting 156 votes, just eight more than the runner-up in the race, former city councilman and two-time acting mayor Bill Colombo.
Tremblay, a Florida native who previously served as assistant state attorney for Pasco County before going into private practice, also beat out another former councilman, Richard Bloom; businessman Todd Maklary; and counselor Gregory Smithwick.
A total of 565 votes were cast in the special mayoral election.
The town has been in political upheaval since its mayor Dale Massad was arrested back in February.
Massad faces charges of practicing without a license, and also for shooting at deputies as they tried serving a search warrant at his home.
Massad's replacement Terrence Rowe was arrested weeks later after deputies said he was caught on a jailhouse phone call conspiring with Massad to obstruct the investigation.
The city council has been working to sort out the mayoral mess and today, voters got the chance to voice their opinions at the polls.
"I personally feel that the citizens will speak for themselves on Tuesday and our little city will finally move forward," Coucilwoman Jennie Sorrell said in a statement earlier Tuesday.
Another special election will be held in September to fill a vacant city council seat. Until then, the Port Richey City Council will operate with three members.
CORRECTION: An earlier headline on this story said New Port Richey.