Stuart is now entering a growth phase which will accelerate with the improving economy. The task of the City Commission will be to guide that change so that it will be positive for the entire city. Benjamin Disraeli, the 19^th century British Prime Minister and author, wrote that “Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” No truer words were spoken.

I am running for City Commission to help maintain Stuart’s “old Florida charm and life style.”  At the same, time I realize that we must attract new residents, new jobs and new businesses to maintain and expand our tax base. These two points are not inconsistent.  However, we cannot allow any single project to misdirect that vision.

Sometimes we may lose sight of the ultimate goal. We may see any individual project as the end rather than only one means to the final achievement. That is why our city government must examine each development project not in a vacuum but rather how our future will be enhanced by any single project. It is not enough that a project is viable.  It must contribute to our ultimate goal.

There are some in and out of government who want to take Stuart and make it Naples or Delray or City Place. The majority of our citizens have spoken loudly and often that we do not want to be those places. So, instead of trying to be we should look to what we can be.

That does not mean that downtown remain frozen as is because Disraeli’s maxim is correct.   We can have a vibrant restaurant, entertainment and arts scene while remaining true to our values. We can have new residential and retail opportunity throughout our city without disrupting our way of life.  We need to have a City Commission that will make sure that our government adheres to our wishes.