Jerry Mullins

Platform on Pinellas Park Issues

Pinellas Park Quality of Life

When I grew up in Pinellas Park, it was a small town. I have lived and worked here for 51 years as it has grown into a special city where I have proudly raised my family and my grandchildren. I know that with a careful and reasonable approach to growth, we can continue to make Pinellas Park one of the best cities in Florida, but it will take firm leadership.

Jerry with his family

Pinellas Park faces serious growth issues in the coming years, and we want to be sure that we proceed with thoughtful growth management and not lose the things that make Pinellas Park special. Growth management decisions affect everything from class size to traffic to open space, and even affects availability and price of precious resources like water.

Let us plan for growth the right way without compromising our quality life. I understand what is at stake, and I have the experience to lead us through it. As President of the Historical Society of Pinellas Park, I worked to protect our neighborhood integrity and historical buildings. As a businessman here for over 35 years, I understand how to make growth work for us instead of against us. I think one of the most important priorities a council member can do is protect our quality of life here in Pinellas Park.

My dedication to these issues is the reason I was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005.

Protecting Neighborhoods & Business Corridors

We have come a long way in accomplishing progress for Pinellas Park neighborhoods. We need to continue to use fair and wise code enforcement to help turn neighborhoods around, but be flexible to help people who want to improve their homes and build garage apartments and mother-n-law cottages. We also come far in improving drainage issues along Park Boulevard, and I completely support our work to alleviate flooding with proper drainage systems in priority areas. Another key to protecting our neighborhoods and businesses is to clamp down on crime. I fully support the development of stronger crime watch programs to help us make our community and officers safer. I am a proud sponsor of the Pinellas Park Police Explorers/Police Alumni. I have worked with various community groups for over 30 years to make Pinellas Park cleaner and safer, and I am particularly proud of my help with People Helping People, a group I have sponsored for the past years to help people fix up their homes.

Economic Development

Strong businesses support our neighborhoods, and strong neighborhoods support our businesses. I support mixed use development that wisely balance live, work, and recreation, and where we can place people closer to amenities so we spend less time in traffic, and more time with our families. I believe Pinellas Park is the ideal city to attract good businesses that will add to our community, provide jobs and services, and make Pinellas Park more exciting. I have the business sense and experience to know how to realistically work with economic development. In my work, I have worked closely with all local and state government agencies. I have made payroll for my 30+ employees for the last 30 years. In my leadership with the Pinellas Park Thunderbirds, I helped turn a nonprofit group that was deep in debt into a flourishing and economically healthy organization that now gives back to the community and charities. I have been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years.

Promoting Recreation, Health, and Fitness

To love Pinellas Park is to appreciate our parks, bike lanes, and opportunities to be outside. I support improving indoor and outdoor recreational swimming pools, as well as more bike trails that make it easier to exercise and get around. I also fully support teen centers and more senior programs at our recreation centers. These programs are the heart of a strong community and do much to connect us. I have seen these community connections firsthand in my work with helping to provide more batting cages at Davis Field and the Youth Park Soccer Field. I have seen how much these programs make a real difference in my proud work with the Going the Distance Youth Ministry and in my support of the Bay Pines VA Hospital. What's even more important, I have a realistic view on how we can tighten our budget belt, but still preserve these programs that mean so much to our entire community.