PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A special election Tuesday will possibly bring a close to the Port Richey mayoral saga.
Five people -- Richard Bloom, William Columbo, Todd Maklary, Gregory Smithwick and Scott Tremblay -- are running for mayor, a post that has been empty for weeks.
The saga began in February, when 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 has remained empty pending the special election.
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