It’s quite an adventurous time in Crystal River.

The last 18 months have brought three hurricanes, a tornadothe forced transfer of City hall and turnover in the position of city manager.

A beloved councilman died and someone who was appointed to take his place decided to take another political path.

And, with all this, voters will elect two councilors.

Position 1 has three candidates: Gabrielle Satchell, Larry Schenavar and Benje Thomas. Holder Ken Brown He is not seeking re-election.

Running in seat 3: Chris Ensing and Mindi Mulvi-Hastingswho is the head after her appointment in March.

Technically, this is Hastings’ second run for City Council, although the first attempt never officially materialized.

The City Council had called a special election in March to fill the seat vacated by Pat Fitzpatrick death. The City Council had appointed the former municipal administrator Ken Frink to the position; Both Frink and Hastings filed to run in the Special Election, but Frink he leaned run for School Board instead.

That left Hastings automatically winning the Special Election. She is the only owner.

Hastings, a former member of the city Planning Commission and a 44-year city resident, said his focus is on balancing services between residents and tourists.

“Crystal River is where my family is. It’s where I raised my children, where my children are raising my grandchildren,” Hastings said during his swearing-in ceremony. “It’s the city I’ve been lucky enough to call home for more than 40 years. So for me it’s not just a business, it’s something personal.”

Ensing has been a Crystal River builder and real estate developer for 30 years. He has been vice president of the former Community Redevelopment Agency Board, president of the Unsafe Structures Appeals Board, and director of the Crystal River Main Street Board.

“Together we can achieve great things and help create an atmosphere where we all thrive,” he said. “We have something and we must protect it.”

In Seat 1, Satchell is a Crystal River native and 2012 graduate of Crystal River High School. As a family nurse practitioner, Satchell’s goal is to provide an alternative voice.

“We need new ideas to ensure our water quality is protected, our infrastructure can support future development and our local businesses can thrive,” he said.

Schenavar, an information technology consultant, has experience on the city’s Planning Commission, the Waterfronts Advisory Board and Save the Crystal Riverthe organization spearheading the removal of invasive plants from Kings Bay.

“As a resident of the city since 2014 and a Floridian since 1977, I have witnessed the evolution of our state and our city and understand the importance of preserving its character as we move forward.”

Schenavar has a specific proposal: annual residential permits to provide free access to Three Sisters Springs, the parking area and boat ramps.

A lifelong resident, Thomas is the semi-retired owner of two Crystal River businesses. His platform includes managing King’s Bay, finding solutions to the City Council challenge and smart growth.

“As a local business owner for 26 years,” he said, “I know how to make tough decisions to keep the business moving forward successfully.”

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