- April 24, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Approximately 175 residents attended the Aug. 23 forum, at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Extra chairs were needed to accommodate a larger-than-anticipated crowd Aug. 23, at the Political Candidate Forum, at the Hilton Garden Inn. And even the extra chairs weren’t enough; the event became standing room only.
The political forum was hosted by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, Flagler County Association of Realtors and Flagler County Homebuilders Association. David Ayres, of WNZF, moderated the event.
The issues
An answer to one question posed by Ayres, incumbent Mayor Jon Netts said the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners should be the structure or organization that oversees economic development initiatives.
“Before we talk about funding, we need to talk about a plan first,” Netts said, adding that if a plan is funded through a countywide tax, everyone would be taxed equally.
When asked about improving Palm Coast’s reputation of being only moderately business friendly, mayoral candidate Charles Ericksen Jr. said: “I think the city needs to be aggressive and go out and talk to the businesses that are out there. Accumulate what the five or six most common misperceptions are and address them one at a time.”
Joe Cunnane, also running for mayor, took several shots at City Manager Jim Landon during the question-and-answer session.
When asked about renegotiating upper-level management salaries, Cunnane said: “The city manager is hired by the council. The city manager is evaluated by the council … Would I renegotiate? Absolutely.”
Cunnane also said he thinks the city is anti-business, stating the City Council doesn’t know much about business.
District 3 candidate Jason DeLorenzo said a new Palm Coast City Hall has pros and cons; but it should ultimately be up to residents to decide.
“The cons, of course, (include) the cost,” DeLorenzo said. “We know it can be an expensive building, although building it now can be cheaper than building in the future. Another con would be the economic vacuum that could be caused by City Hall leaving City Marketplace ... If City Hall is to be built, I think it’s up to the voters to decide.”
Dennis Cross, who is opposing DeLorenzo for the District 3 seat, agreed that the decision should be up to voters. When Cross was asked about code enforcement issues, he said the city should be more sympathetic on signs, especially with Realtors.
He said he also favored some leniency on commercial vehicles in residential driveways. “A smaller vehicle with a small sign, I don’t have a problem,” he said. “If you’re talking large vehicles with large signs, I’m not in favor.”
City Council District 1 incumbent Holsey Moorman, on a scale of 1 to 5, rated the city’s business friendliness between a 3.5 and a 4, citing the success of the Business Assistance Center.
On the issue of city code being unfriendly to businesses, Moorman added: “The code is not written in a vacuum. The business people have the opportunity to come to those meetings, voice their opinions.”
District 1 candidate Bill McGuire said he’s in favor of diverting funds for road repairs to update stormwater systems.
“I’m in favor of diverting funds from repaving roads to stormwater funds,” he said. “The city did a great job of repaving, and the condition of the roads is such that we don’t need to repave 50 miles a year.”
Moorman said “now is not the time” in regard to building a new City Hall, but would be in support of one in the future. McGuire said a City Hall is at least five years away.
The reactions
Gretchen Smith, of the chamber and Flagler Votes, said there were approximately 175 attendees.
“It was much more than we anticipated,” Smith said after the event. “We’re trying to offer a nonbiased opportunity for people to learn about the candidates ... I hope this will bring more people to the polls.”
Tom Lawrence, of the Flagler County Tea Party, said the forum is an “outstanding vehicle for the residents to find out what the residents are all about.”
“As a voter, you’re trying to figure out the substance of the candidates,” Lawrence said. But, he added, “You can have the best idea in the world, but unless you can get your elected body to move on it, you haven’t accomplished anything.”
— Brian McMillan contributed to this report.
