Mayor and Commissioners

Contact Information: (727) 938-3711, 324 East Pine St, Fax (727) 937-8199

Email the Mayor and Board of Commissioners

Mayor Chris Alahouzos - Mayor Chris Alahouzos was elected as Mayor of the City of Tarpon Springs on March 15, 2016 and was sworn in on April 5, 2016, and was re-elected to a second three year term on March 12, 2019. He previously served on the Board of City Commissioners in the capacity of Vice-Mayor and Commissioners and is a long time resident of the City of Tarpon Springs. He is a proud father of 3 sons and has 2 grand-daughters. Mayor Alahouzos is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Veteran, and active Rotary Club member, President of the Sister Cities of Tarpon Springs and Founder and Board Member for Plato Academy Schools. Prior to his election as Mayor, he served as the Manager of Verizon Network Operations of Florida for over 40 years. He serves on various boards and committees including: Florida League of Mayors, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Pinellas County Mayors Council, American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture Trustee and has completed the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Municipal Officials and is a graduate of the FBI Citizens’ Academy. Email calahouzos@ctsfl.us Vice-Mayor Jacob Karr - Vice-Mayor Jacob Karr was elected to serve a three-year term on March 14, 2017 and was sworn in to office on April 4, 2017. He is a lifelong resident of Tarpon Springs where he grew up in the historic district in a 1900 bungalow. He attended local elementary, middle and high schools in Tarpon Springs and is a graduate of Tarpon Springs High School. He attended St. Petersburg College, Tarpon Springs campus, for his AA degree, following which he obtained a degree in Business Management from the University of South Florida. Both of Vice-Mayor Karr’s parents are small business owners in Tarpon Springs. Vice-Mayor Karr has worked as a financial planning office manager and is currently Procurement Healthcare Manager with over $650 Million in annual spend where he is responsible for contract negotiations and cost savings across multiple categories. Prior to his election as a Commissioner, he served on the Historic Preservation Board and the Planning and Zoning Board. As Tarpon Springs’ Vice-Mayor, he serves as a member of the Pinellas County Schools Safety Transportation Board. Email jkarr@ctsfl.us Commissioner Townsend Tarapani - Commissioner Tarapani was elected to serve a three year term on March 12, 2019 and was sworn in on April 9, 2019. He previously served on the Board of City Commissioners in the capacity of Vice-Mayor and Commissioner. He is a Tarpon Springs native and seventh generation Floridian. Growing up in Tarpon Springs, Commissioner Tarapani was active in the community and volunteered at an early age. He attended Jesuit High School in Tampa and Auburn University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Business and Economics. After graduation, he returned home to Tarpon Springs and was appointed by the Board of Commissioners to the Budget Advisory Board and was elected as their first Chairman. A few years later he ran for City Commissioner and was elected at the age of 25 and served two terms. During this time, he married his college sweetheart, Jenna C. Tarapani and has been blessed with three beautiful children. Currently Commissioner Tarapani is a licensed Florida Real Estate Broker, co-owner of Tarapani’s Department Store and Tarapani Banther & Associates. He is currently committed to the following organizations: Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Tarpon Springs Historical Society and Florida Cracker Cattle Association. Email ttarapani@ctsfl.us Commissioner Connor Donovan - Commissioner Connor Donovan was elected to serve a three year term on March 12th, 2019 and was sworn in on April 9th, 2019. He is a Tarpon Springs native and proud graduate of Tarpon Springs High School. Connor is a licensed insurance agent and works for his family business, Donovan Insurance Solutions, in downtown Tarpon Springs. He graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy and Administration from St. Petersburg College, and he plans on pursuing his Masters Degree in Public Administration from USF. While in college he served as President of the International City and County Management Association Student Chapter at SPC for all campuses. In his spare time, Connor is a passionate Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning fan. Email cdonovan@ctsfl.us Commissioner Costa Vatikiotis - Commissioner Costa Vatikiotis is a Tarpon Springs native whose family arrived in 1905 with the first Greek sponge fishermen from Aegina, Greece. He’s a graduate of Tarpon Springs High School, Florida State University, and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Science, Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean as a Surface Warfare Officer. Commissioner Vatikiotis completed his 20-year career with the rank of Commander as an Engineering Duty Officer in the Navy’s Research and Development Community. He later was on the Research Staff with the Center for Naval Analyses, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, as a Senior Scientific Analyst. He participated overseas in Desert Storm as a Senior Advisor to the Admiral in charge of the Mine Warfare Command. He met, Darlene (Dolly), his wife of over 40 years, while attending the Naval Postgraduate School. Upon her retirement as a U.S. Navy Commander, Costa and Dolly relocated to Tarpon Springs to finish raising their 3 children, and to step back from the hi-tempo of the Washington, D.C. environment. After returning to Tarpon Springs to open a plant nursery in the Keystone area, Commissioner Vatikiotis instead became the City’s Building Official, City Engineer, and ultimately City Manager. He left city employment to spend more time with his family and to develop his practice as a professional engineer and an environmental consultant. Costa is now retired professionally, but continues serving as your City Commissioner, Seat 2. Email cvatikiotis@ctsfl.us