-
Crescent City Commission candidates
Four Crescent City candidates are vying for two city commission seats this election cycle – two are political newcomers and two have been down the campaign road before.
Incumbent Lisa Kane DeVitto is running against businessman Scott King, who is new to the political scene, for the Group 1 seat. William “B.J.” Laurie, who served on the city commission from 2003-2006, is facing another newcomer and businessman C.J. Bailey for the Group 2 seat. Currently, Judy West serves as the Group 2 commissioner, and has been on the City Commission 30 years, but is retiring this year.
The Palatka Daily News asked the candidates a series of questions and their responses, in the candidates’ own words, are as follows:
Q: What is your age, profession and education?
DeVitto: 65, attorney, policy advocate; retired and B.A., Brown University; J.D. College of Law, Florida State University.
King: 58, owner of King’s Office Supply and Blue Crystal Water and high school graduate.
Bailey: I’m in my mid 60’s, a former military chief warrant officer helicopter medevac pilot in the U.S. Army. Now, (I’m) pursuing my passion of a craft BBQ establishment featuring Kansas City-style, old-school slow-cooked hickory smoked meat and side dishes. (Education:) eight years post-high school, airport management, aeronautical engineering and pro-pilot FAA certifications.
Laurie: 43, disabled/retired due to spinal cord injury; formerly editor/publisher of the Putnam County Courier Journal and self-employed computer assembly and repair. Graduated with honors (from) Crescent City Jr.-Sr. High School (in) 1997 and attended the University of Central Florida, majored in Public Administration and Interpersonal Communications, left with 132 hours of credit and 3.34 GPA.
Q: What is your political experience:
DeVitto: Crescent City Commissioner, 2018 to present. Crescent City Trees and Gardens Board, appointed 2018 by Crescent City Commission. Previously served on state of Florida advisory boards, appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush and State Sen. Tom Lee.
King: First-time candidate.
Bailey: Many years as a student of politics. However, this is my first campaign for myself.
Laurie: Served as Crescent City Commissioner 2003-2006.
Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?
DeVitto: 1. More collaborative decision-making process by the commission that responds to residents/businesses and creates community consensus. 2. Business and residential development, marketing our town as a great place to live, work and play, and filling those many vacant home sites. 3. Seek grant funding to supplement our budget.
King: Get Crescent City’s economy back. Build and improve our infrastructure. Fight drug sales/use in our city.
Bailey: Create meaningful jobs. Bring in new businesses to the town and create opportunities for middle age (people)/class to come back home, or move to Crescent City. At present, it’s an aging retirement community with little resources or opportunities for younger, middle-class families.
Laurie: 1. Transparency. (This) should always be the goal of a government entity – to be as transparent and communicative when it comes to spending tax dollars. Every dollar must be accounted for, and every expenditure needs to be responsible.
2. Fiscal reform. The city budget process needs to be presented as a policy document and made easily accessible to the public. The Better Place Plan funds should always be kept separate from all other funds and need to be transparently spent within a structured plan. The water and natural gas utilities both need to be fiscally solvent. They should be constructed to include annual small rate increases to adjust for inflation and be profitable to allow for transfers to the general fund.
3. Historic preservation. We have a rich history that is part of what makes living here so wonderful, but we are losing pieces of that history every single day. There is nothing in this city’s current laws to protect that valuable history. That must change. Having an effective, meaningful and enforceable historic preservation ordinance is the beginning of protecting that history. In addition, a larger historic preservation plan with goals and objectives needs to be established to protect what remains. These are both steps to becoming a Certified Local Government, which makes us eligible for more grant funding from the state. Preserving and understanding our history is an essential part to revitalizing and growing our future.
Q: Why are you running for office?
DeVitto: I love my town and want to be of service. I’ve helped with many positive, productive initiatives, and problem-solving in my four years on the commission. (I) would like to continue to use my education and experience to improve our town economics and quality of life.
King: I am running for commissioner because I want to see our city the way I remember it – with active, profitable businesses downtown and along Summit Street (Hwy 17), our lakes full of fish and fishermen, and contractors building and rebuilding our infrastructure. Crescent City is where I live, where I have built my business, my livelihood, raised my three sons and where my grandson is growing up today. I believe I have a responsibility to help lead the charge as we march into the future to bring everything our city deserves to have and to be. I want to ensure the city’s growth is carefully planned and sustainable, both economically and environmentally.
Bailey: Because all my life I am a doer, not a talker and, frankly, I see an opportunity to bring my leadership expertise to the city and role model for those to follow and get off the couch and do something about our city instead of just sitting around talking and complaining about it. … I just don’t like the direction the city is headed, so I decided to do something about it because I can, and I am willing to do so.
Laurie: Public service was the most satisfying and fulfilling experience of my life previously. I moved back to Crescent City 10 years ago after a devasting car accident. I have continued to monitor the decisions of our city government over this time, looking for an opportunity to put my talents and expertise to use. With the seat opening after Commissioner Judy West’s decision to retire after 30 years in office, the time was right to step up and run.
Q: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for this position?
DeVitto: My proven track record of accomplishment as a commissioner and community service, budget expertise and problem-solving at the local and statewide level as a working board member of (my) church, civic, neighborhood and governmental advisory boards. When there is a problem to be solved, I look for the cause and find solutions. I am very involved with our community organizations. … I’ve educated myself by attending two Florida Redevelopment Conferences, and Florida League of Cities conferences. … I make it a point to advocate for the needs of small towns such as Crescent City; recognized by the League of Cities as a Home Rule Hero for two years running.
King: I am the best candidate because I will represent all of Crescent City. I will not vote no on an issue just because it isn’t what I want or what I like. I will vote for what I feel is best for the entire city, even (if) it goes against my personal wants. … Should I vote no on an issue, I will work hard to offer an alternative. I recognize the value our lakes bring to our city and I will advocate to protect them while still allowing the usages for which they are known for, including fishing and motorized vessels on Lake Stella. I recognize the importance of public trust and I will guide my decisions accordingly and not by my personal wants. Most importantly, I care deeply about this city and our residents and will work hard to make it all it can and should be.
Bailey: Yes, of course I do, or I wouldn’t be running. Who runs for office and thinks they are subpar or the least qualified? In this case, I am more physically able to go out amongst my constituents and peers and be an active part of the community and contribute, and I have.
Laurie: My previous experience on the commission, my education in college and after and my experience as a business owner and manager all help qualify me for city commissioner. I have also spent most of my life living in the Crescent City area (29 years). Being involved with the Courier Journal from a young age, I have always been interested in and aware of our community’s needs. As an adult, I found that one person can bring about great change in a community. I have loved my time volunteering and serving on (multiple local) boards. … Being a former member of the Rotary Club of Crescent City prepared me for a lifetime of “service above self.”
Q: What do you think the Crescent City Commission does best?
DeVitto: Provides recognition for students and area residents for their accomplishments and for volunteer service or donations to our community. Appreciation for our employees.
King: Currently, the commission is focused on bringing our city ordinances up to date and rebuilding our economy, which both have been neglected for years. Both of these measures are moving forward. Ordinances are being coded (computerized for easy use and searchability). The commission is looking at them one by one and making them relevant to our current status and future growth. The recently-hired city manager is highly skilled and accredited in economic growth and is laser-focused on revitalization. He has spearheaded our application for the Main Street Program – a proven recipe for rebuilding downtowns. The majority of the commission supports all the efforts needed to move the city forward.
Bailey: That’s an easy one ... spend money they don’t have.
Laurie: They currently are reactive to problems once they arise. They also are quite conservative in their financial decisions, maintaining quite a healthy reserve fund. The city has retained many dedicated employees, which is of benefit, as well as the hiring of Charles Rudd, our new city manager.
Q: Where do you feel the City Commission most needs to improve and how can it accomplish this?
DeVitto: 1. More collaborative decision-making process by the commission that responds to residents/businesses and creates community consensus, have training workshops in this; also, make sure we adopt meeting rules and procedures as required by state law. (I) don’t think we’ve done this. 2. Set a more realistic work program for the year, and for our agendas, that fit within the time available for staff and commission to accomplish. 3. More efficient meetings with full information to make a decision. Agenda items should come with both sides of the issue and sufficient background information to allow us to make an informed decision. Anyone that has a presentation or proposal and plans to provide written materials or a power point should have it to the clerk in time to be included in the packet. The commission nor the public should have to see a complex presentation for the first time at a commission meeting.
King: An area of improvement for the commission is communication. Social media these days allows a small group of folks to bash every item that comes up and support their view with mistruths or misrepresented information. Often times, this is the only exposure to what is going on in the city that those not attending meetings get. It is imperative that the truth of what is really going on is available for everyone. While we can’t control those keyboard cowboys who complain and twist every issue, the city needs to do a better job of getting the facts publicly stated. I believe residents on social media want the facts. Whether it be on the city’s webpage or social media, the city needs to improve getting their actions in layperson terms to the residents. Transparency improves public trust and the city can improve on the public trust from the residents for which they serve by improving their transparency.
Bailey: This commision just needs some new blood, a person with a third-person-looking-in viewpoint. In other words, a fresh, clear perspective. You know, sometimes being so close for so long one can’t see the forest for the trees. A fresh perspective sees it for what it truly is in real time. That means seeing the good as well as seeing the not so good or seeing a solution that might go overlooked by the person who lives here day in and day out for long periods of time. Two of the four commissioners have been in office consecutively for over 30 years, one for 35. I respect their time in public services, however, I do feel like the times have changed and the city needs a new direction and new leadership to take us into these new troubled times. … I also don’t think just because you have lived here all your life that this instantly qualifies you to know what’s best for the town in today’s marketplace.
Laurie: They need to be proactive and have a long-term vision for our city and move toward it. Having a million dollars in unrestricted reserves may seem like a great idea for a rainy day but putting those tax dollars to use in projects benefiting the citizens would yield much better results. Transparency and communication with its residents are always areas that need improvement. Currently the city’s website leaves a lot to be desired. (There) needs to be a portal that makes it quick and easy to find any and all information that you need.
Q: What are some projects not in the city’s long-term plan that you would want to see the city accomplish?
DeVitto: Traffic calming, which residents have been asking for; public-private partnerships to increase housing for all income levels, particularly workforce housing; community center, which residents have asked for and public-private partnership for (this), (a) county-area exercise/swimming facility. And (a) business incubator for people/students who would like to start a business, but need a “leg up.” Finally, a better strategic planning process. We need to implement many sections of our state-required comprehensive plan that just sits on the shelf.
King: One area that will not only help our economy but also the conservation of Lake Crescent is an eelgrass restoration project. Crystal River, mainly King’s Bay, was suffering from loss of its eelgrass. A group of residents worked together and re-planted eelgrass. That bay is now full of grass, and the water is once again crystal clear. As an avid angler, this sparked my interest, so I volunteered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on their Lake George eelgrass experiment this past summer. The acre of grass that we planted has flourished inside the protective zone and there is the possibility to plant miles of grass in Lake George. Once elected, I plan to bring to the commission to partner with (the conservation commission) and our residents to get an eelgrass restoration project for Lake Crescent. This will be great for our lake and great for Crescent City’s economy.
Bailey: More city-sponsored fundraising events, more emphasis on younger family opportunities, better representation of the people in the town as well as those who are immediately around the town. Just because you don’t live in town doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a voice in what goes on in Crescent City. After all, more people live around the town than in it. They do their grocery shopping in town, purchase their fuel for their cars, buy insurance, etc. I don’t feel the current administration, or at least some of them, take these people into consideration. After talking with many folks in and around Crescent City, the surrounding folks feel somewhat like step children and feel their wants and needs and voice goes unheard. We have to remedy that situation.
Laurie: Stormwater master plan and infrastructure improvements are a huge need since we are a city between two lakes which receive all of our runoff. This would also require funding which should be done through a nominal stormwater utility fee. In addition, a water and wastewater utility master plan should be undertaken to evaluate the entire city’s needs. I would also like to see our Better Place Plan funds be better utilized through a ranked project list, instead of being a “slush fund” for problems that arise. As a wheelchair user, the condition and availability of the city’s sidewalks needs to be addressed.
Q: How do you feel about the efforts being made to revitalize Crescent City with the Community Redevelopment Agency?
DeVitto: Hiring a CRA manager was a great step. I asked to put this position in the budget after identifying the need in 2019. I’m very pleased to see many volunteers and the Downtown Partnership activities. (I) would like to see more businesses involved and target filling empty storefronts. We lack focus for implementing our 43-page (community redevelopment agency) plan. The commission, as the (redevelopment agency) board, needs to set priorities with action steps and funding identified to achieve them. Our three (redevelopment agencies) are funded by city and county tax money. (Redevelopment agencies) must operate for specific purposes set out in state law. If you don’t follow your plan, and state law, your (redevelopment agency) can be shut down. … We have 11 goals for the Central (redevelopment agency) alone. The funding needed to accomplish them far outstrips our available resources, so setting priorities and near-term and long-term goals are badly needed.
King: It is fantastic and was part of why I decided to run for Commission so I could support it. Truth be told, we (businesses and residents) tried this ourselves about 25 (years) ago, but we didn’t have the experience nor the backing of the city and the (community redevelopment agency) board. … The (redevelopment agency) funds capital improvements such as commercial buildings, sidewalks, public spaces, etc., but the real work is being done by the Downtown Partnership, which brings the city, business owners, civic groups, and residents together for the better good. The (agency) funds the improvements necessary to draw businesses. The Partnership is working to clean up and draw customers. This is being accomplished with regular events such as our monthly Arts and Farmers Market, Movie in the Park and upcoming festivals and events. It’s a plan that attacks the issue from both sides – needed customers and needed businesses.
Bailey: Their focus is on beautification, planting flowers, painting light poles. I say spend some money in aiding start-up businesses. Pay a couple months’ rent for new businesses. Help market their business. Promote new businesses that would benefit the entire town, not just a select few buddies of the administration. These folks have never heard of the term economic development. Just because the government doesn’t give you funds to just hand out and bring businesses to your town doesn’t mean you don’t generate other avenues to entice new businesses to come to your fair city. This means we have to do things ourselves for our town, not sit around and wait for the government to hand you money to bring in new business and new industry. We have to think outside the box and create our own benefits to get businesses to want to move here and most importantly keep them here and support them.
Laurie: This was a subject of my campaign in 2003 when we had just started to accumulate funds for the (community redevelopment agency). We are starting to make some real changes to our downtown area that people can see. Central Avenue is looking better, but the (redevelopment agency) does cover a huge cross-section of town. There are more areas that need attention. The events and partnerships that the (agency) are funding represent some of the greatest momentum in recent memory. It is important that the limited funds available to the (redevelopment agency) are used to their greatest advantage, but the current direction is very encouraging. The Farmer’s Market, for example, has become something I look forward to every month.
Copyright 2022 by Palatka Daily News - all rights reserved.