A few weeks back Gil Smart wrote a story in the Stuart News regarding the Stuart Commission races. He portrayed the decision as experience over youth. I see It differently. I believe that it should be about whom the Commissioners represent.
If it were just about experience, however, then I would contend that Mike Meier has more government experience than his opponent, Nick Blount. Mike is on the CRB and has had to cast more votes than Nick, who was only recently appointed to the City Commission. Meier has attended far more Commission meetings than his opponent and has met with staff on numerous occasions to understand the issues.
Blount is retired from FPL where he was a government relations executive. Meier is an owner of Ground Floor Farms where he and his partners employ close to 20 people during season. Both have served on various community associations and boards.
In the other Commission race, Troy McDonald has been a Commissioner for almost a decade. He has been on the MPO and the Business Development Board representing the City Commission. McDonald was a candidate to succeed Ed Fielding on the BOCC but dropped out of that race shortly after Stacey Hetherington filed for the seat.
Both McDonald and his opponent, Merritt Matheson, own businesses. McDonald owns a legal process serving company and Matheson owns and manages real estate in downtown. He also works at a marine store where he runs the fishing department. Merritt is a member of the LPA, which is where development projects are vetted before going to the Commission. Like Meier, he has attended Commission meetings for more than a year.
What sets the candidates apart? Three of the four are business owners and one is a retired executive, so all have shown an ability in business to differing degrees. McDonald has the most governmental experience and Blount the least. But how much does that matter? Our current Congressman had no prior experience in elected office. All three candidates challenging Commissioner Heard running for the District 4 seat on the County Commission are without electoral experience.
I have been with both Meier and Matheson when they have taken time from their businesses to volunteer in the community. They did this not as part of their employment but as part of their commitment. Both have contributed their own funds to purchase school supplies or buy a meal for someone in need.
It appears to me that the difference is that Meier and Matheson want to represent Stuart residents. They are interested in more than just the people who call Stuart home during the work day, or at night while out dining. You can see this difference in who likes the candidates respective Facebook pages and, more importantly, who contributes to their campaigns.
A Stuart City Commissioner should represent the residents of Stuart.
Commissioners are there to listen to their concerns, wants and needs. In the past year or so, this Commission has been more enamored of “the Osceola crowd” over the people of Palm City Road. Transparency has suffered. There is still no streaming of meetings. The last-minute pay increase and Blount’s appointment without allowing citizen input are emblematic of a disregard for residents. And the rhetoric about what was said on the dais doesn’t matter if their vote did not reflect the words spoken.
Experience didn’t help when the Commission chose the last City Manager. Or when they ignored the reasons so many senior staff left. It wasn’t as if employees didn’t try to bring matters to their attention. Longevity in life or in elected office doesn’t bestow wisdom or knowledge on our elected officials.
This is not a matter of experience measured in years but of integrity. Do we need career politicians even on this level? Will the people that we elect do what is best for their friends and contributors or what is best for the residents, taxpayers and citizens of our City?