PORT RICHEY, Fla. — People living in Port Richey voted to elect a new mayor Tuesday, closing a chapter on a monthlong saga that saw two mayors arrested.
Unofficial election results showed Scott Tremblay edging out runner-up Bill Columbo 156-148. The vote has not yet been certified, but the Pasco County Supervisor of Election's Office said mail votes had been tabulated, and there would be no recount. Three other candidates also sought the office.
Tremblay is a local lawyer who runs his own firm.
In February, then-Mayor Dale Massad was arrested after allegedly shooting at Pasco County deputies who were serving a search warrant at his home.
At the time, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco called Massad a "known drug user."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Massad on Feb. 22, but the mayor resigned from office hours later.
Massad remains in jail awaiting trial.
Then the acting mayor, Terrence Rowe, was arrested March 13 on charges with obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime.
RELATED: Former Port Richey mayor denied bond
Officials said he and Massad were recorded plotting to harass and intimidate a police officer involved in the investigation.
DeSantis removed Rowe from office. The office remained empty pending the special election.
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