TARPON SPRINGS, Fl – Greek American Costa Vatikiotis, 73, will replace the outgoing Mayor Chris Alahouzos in the North Pinellas city of Tarpon Springs.
Vatikiotis cleared 56% of the vote, while his challenger, Robin Saenger, got almost 44%.
A Tarpon Springs native, Vatikiotis has been serving as one of the three Commissioners of the Tarpon Springs Municipality since 2020. He has previously served as a city engineer and the city manager. His grandfather, Kostas Vatikiotis, was born in Aegina and he was among the first 50 spongers who came from this island in 1905 to Tarpon Springs.
Alahouzos is leaving City Hall because of term limits.
Another Greek American, Panagiotis Stavros Koulias, is the winner of Tarpon Springs’ Commission Seat 4.