- April 23, 2024
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I would like to congratulate and thank all of our candidates who are running for office in the 2022 general election.
Something was missing from the campaign trail in the final stretch for the elections this fall: Craziness! The candidates this election season have focused on the issues, not the dirty laundry of their opponents.
Sure, the laundry remains dirty — but it wasn’t hung out to dry. Thank you. We voters appreciate your civil behavior during the campaigns.
Early indications are that Leann Pennington will beat Jane Gentile-Youd for Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, District 4. But by saying it, am I setting myself up for a “Dewey wins” moment? Probably not. So rather than a candidate endorsement, let me share my opinion on who and what we will get with Pennington elected.
When confronted, Pennington disputes that she is anti-development. But her opening line at the Observer/WNZF Free For All Candidate Forum on Oct. 12 was that she will protect and preserve farmland.
On her Facebook page, she says our commission needs to ensure that our rural community continues to participate in agricultural land preservation, help preserve working farms and ensure our land code continues to support the preservation of larger lot sizes.
Had she attended the Flagler Palm Coast Chamber of Commerce reception prior to the candidate forum, she would have heard that within the next seven years, our population is expected to grow to an estimated 160,000 — invited or not.
Where will she put these new residents, if not on undeveloped, agriculturally zoned property? You can not develop on land that’s already developed. And what about the families who struggle in agriculture for decades, and rely on future land value to provide for their families and generations to come? Do they really want interference in selling their property?
During the forum, she also shared her take on economic development. Pennington, like some other candidates, spoke of the need for more and better jobs. I agree. We do need more and better jobs. Our tax diversity has recently improved, but 90% of the tax burden remains on the backs of our residents.
So more commercial and industrial development is welcomed, right? The solution Pennington presented at the forum was to provide incentives for businesses to move here and help improve the balance of our tax diversity. Sounds great. But all of a sudden, we are back to the question of where she will put commercial and industrial development? Not on agriculturally zoned land.
Again, had Pennington engaged in conversation with some of our business community leaders, she would have learned that the root of our lack of development is not enticing business to locate here; it is the already major challenge where to put them. Of all of the zoned property in Flagler County, only 5% is zoned for commercial and industrial. How can we improve our tax diversity, and reduce the tax burden to residents, if we only have 5% land zoned for commercial and industrial?
Property rights: Let’s hope Pennington becomes an expert. Quickly.
I endorse Courtney VandeBunte for Flagler County School Board, District 2.
The bottom line is this: We want A schools. We want A schools for our children to get the best education possible. We want A schools to preserve and enhance our property values. We want A schools to develop our future workforce. We want A schools to preserve our quality of life.
VandeBunte is an accomplished educator. She has been a teacher in the classrooms and was recognized as a Teacher of the Year.
She has worked in administration. She was instrumental in developing the Classroom to Careers program while serving as a teacher at i3 Academy.
She has dedicated her professional career to education with her current position in curriculum development for Harvard University’s LabXchange science education platform for K-12 students.
VandeBunte knows that a quality school environment provides the best opportunity for students to learn. VandeBunte has focused on educational issues throughout her campaign — not the noise and distractions of social issues.
I’ll say it again: I endorse Theresa Carli Pontieri for Palm Coast City Council, District 2.
Pontieri solidified my support during the Flagler Broadcasting-Observer Free For All Political Forums held on July 14 and Oct. 12 at the Palm Coast Community Center.
There, she explained what her approach would be as an elected official. She compared it to her current career as an attorney, saying a City Council position is much like the job of an attorney — to know and understand the City Charter, as law, and uphold it to the best of her ability; to do her due diligence on every issue that comes to the council; to read the agenda and meeting packets to be prepared to ask questions.
She will act as a judge and hold personal opinion and bias out of the conversation.
She will work hard to understand the issues of her constituents.
She will act professionally and respectfully towards her fellow council members, administration and city staff.
I endorse Fernando Melendez for Palm Coast City district 4.
Living here since 1990, I have known many well-intentioned candidates that moved to town with an attitude of: “This is how we did it up north!” And they came to fix us, before even knowing what was right or wrong with our local governments.
That is not the case with Fernando Melendez.
I met Melendez over five years ago. In our first meeting, Melendez indicated his interest in local government and politics. But unlike others, he went on to say he would like to be involved in the community to learn what was going on and see if he could help in some way.
Fernando, you had me at hello! And it just got better from there. Melendez has an extremely impressive resume confirming his sincere interest and qualifications for the job of city councilman.
His education and experience includes a master’s degree in political science with a concentration on economic growth, certification in the Citizens Academy, serving on the Palm Coast Redistricting Commission, serving on the Flagler County Planning Board and participation in the Florida Institute for Community Leadership. Melendez is built for the job.
I endorse a yes vote to continue the half-cent sales tax for Flagler Schools.
Of each dollar of half-penny sales tax money collected, Flagler County residents only pay 60%, because 40% is collected from visitors and tourists. That in itself is a bargain. But wait, there’s more!
Here are some of the benefits this local tax has provided our students, our school district and our community.
Flagler Schools’ Classroom to Career learning programs are the envy of most other school districts in the state, and even our state education system. Want proof? The visionary for these programs, former Flagler School Superintendent Jacob Olivia, is now senior chancellor at the Florida Department of Education. The state is replicating our program in other school districts.
Our students, from kindergarten through 12th grade, all have an electronic learning device — a significant advantage compared to many districts. But there is more to it: In addition to student devices, a robust educational platform provides connectivity, parent access and state-of-the-art learning technology.
This investment positioned Flagler Schools ahead of nearly all other school districts that were forced to switch to remote learning during the pandemic. Our learning technology already provided teachers the ability to teach to different student levels and learning styles, so when the pandemic hit, we were prepared to continue teaching, no matter where our students were physically located.
Flagler Schools is also included in our county’s 800 megahertz radio system. This means they are directly connected to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office operations. The school district bypasses 911 in emergencies.
Vote yes to continue the half cent sales tax for Flagler Schools.
