Jeff Danner

I have worked in construction since High School first as a carpenter, then supervisor and then as a Contractor with my own company. I married Robyn in 1990 and we bought an old house in an old neighborhood that reminded me of Willoughby, lots of trees, front porches and kids running all over. We fixed up not only our house but helped turn the neighborhood around. St Petersburg was also going through big changes. It is no longer the retirement community your Grandparents went to to die. Expanding Universities and an emerging Arts culture anchored by the Salvador Dali and soon to open Chiully Galleries have made it a great place to live and raise our daughters. Had any one told me even 10 years ago I would have had a career in politics I would have told them they were crazy, but it came naturally. I go to work in an 80 year old Historic City Hall with marble floors and hand carved ceiling beams and help run a great city with 250,000 people and home of the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays (Yes they play in St Petersburg). Its a great job in a great City, lots of challenges but many rewards. So much of what I do and how I strive to make my city better comes from what I learned growing up in Willoughby. We were all part of a community that knew and cared for each other. That has been lost in a lot of cities. I think of those days alot and work to hold on to those values and turn those memories into policies that build great communities. I look forward to my next trip home and hope to see you all soon.