How Pasco's East-West Battle Almost Led to a Split

Those who are actively involved in our community have likely experienced the distinct delineation between central, east and west Pasco.

From our local history to the general problems plaguing the county, this division is evident and seems to extend beyond a mere geographical indifference.

Deeply rooted in our local history, this divisive attitude is nothing new to Pasco residents and actually had its beginnings as early as 1914.

In 1912, Pinellas County was created through an east and west division of Hillsborough County. And, by 1914, the momentum of this action carried forward when the residents of Tarpon Springs were looking to be separated from Pinellas.

Through introduction of a bill, the proponents of the 1914 plan called for a split in Pinellas County just south of Clearwater, followed by a companion bill to separate the western part of Pasco County — the two defunct portions uniting to make the new Gulf County, with Tarpon Spring as county seat.

Touting a lack of support from the Pasco school board, by 1917 secession plans changed when Tarpon Springs was dropped from the mix. The new plans simply called for the southwest portion of Pasco County to be added to Pinellas.

Working undercover, plans seemed to gain momentum when efforts were made by representative citizens of the west coast through Sen. John King. But, this move was promptly met with opposition from the Dade City Board of Trade, Pasco County School Board and Pasco Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioners communicated with State Rep. E. P. Wilson, who strongly opposed the bill and responded by saying he would not allow it to be brought up for consideration in the House.

Secession Gains Supporters

Over the next several years, the subject of secession seemed to ebb and flow, mostly following the election years in the state house and senate. But, as the county’s west coast population grew, so did their movement.

In April 1926, residents from Elfers and New Port Richey united in these efforts.

Those behind the movement declared New Port Richey was strictly a Gulf Coast town and should be part of Pinellas. They also felt they weren’t getting enough representation out of Pasco County commissioners because of their distant location from the Dade City county seat.

Like any hot topic issue during campaign time, the plan quickly caught the attention of senatorial candidates. In a letter to the Dade City Banner, Sen. Jesse Mitchell stated he was very much opposed to the proposition of division, which would “greatly affect his candidacy” — an issue he strongly opposed during his 1922 campaign.

But, by October 1926, with aid of an attorney, New Port Richey residents moved toward secession during a meeting of the Civitan Club. Concentrating on a lack of west coast roads as a reason of separation, the plan was to have E.P. Wilson’s replacement, Rep. Arthur L. Auvil, introduce the bill.

A mass meeting at the Meighan Theater was held on Oct. 28, 1926, and invitations were extended to neighboring towns of Port Richey, Odessa, Elfers, Hudson and Aripeka to join in the movement.

During the meeting, the crowd unanimously voted to work unceasingly towards division and formed a County Division Committee with Charles DeWoody, Esq., acting as chairman.

In November 1926, fuel was added to the debate when Florida Bus Line announced discontinuation of bus services between New Port Richey and Tarpon Springs due to road conditions — the very sentiment of the west coast residents and their Division Committee.

But this issue was quickly resolved when politicians responded with needed appropriations to improve the roads.

By August 1927, the County Division Committee expanded its list of secession reasons to include traveling distance to the county seat to conduct business, lack of west Pasco publicity, failure of east Pasco to support a 3-mil tax to better publicize and lack of agricultural advice for west coast residents.

On Jan. 9, 1928, the City Club of New Port Richey packed the Hacienda Hotel to capacity during a mass meeting in which they discussed a west coast seat of government, making it possible to secure justice easily and readily. They believed the cost savings of mileage charged by county officials to conduct business, particularly the sheriff, could practically pay their salaries.

Less than a month later New Port Richey schools were forced to close due to building conditions, giving the division proponents additional ammunition in their secession battle.

Following school closure, half a dozen club members, lead by Warren Burns, promptly agreed that speedy action was necessary through an immediate county division and organization of a new county, or annexation to Pinellas County — the only solution.

However, by March 1929 the idea was formally rejected by Pinellas County officials; west Pasco residents again failed to gain the needed political support to pass a bill.

The next secession movement came in 1946, but as in previous attempts the idea was quickly rejected by elected officials, who decided during a lengthy Dade City meeting to table the talks for at least two years.

A Secession Revival

This seemed to put an end to secession attempts until the building boom of the '60s and '70s came along.

Some of our readers probably recall the most recent attempts by west Pasco residents in 1971 to unite with northern Pinellas to create a new county.

This was 10 years after the first west Pasco government building opened on Sunset Road in New Port Richey to better serve west side residents.

According to the Evening Independent, the West Pasco Allied Council (WESPAC), which represented about 90 neighborhood organizations, felt the newer resort-and-retirement population of west Pasco could not get a “square deal from the ‘older establishment’ of east Pasco.”

Through the years, proponents of the west coast secession plan always lacked the needed political support to carry their plan forward. After more than 50 years of annexation attempts to Pinellas County, today Pasco County still remains intact.

But, like oil and water, east and west still seem to rival each other, often times creating unnecessary hardships with general community needs which can easily be accomplished through working together.