Nonpartisan Candidate for Winter Garden City Commission, District 4
Education: 1994 Graduate Osceola High School; 1994-1995 Valencia Community College, 2 years Electrical Engineering
Occupation: Account Manager, Trane US Inc
Home: Winter Garden
Age: 38
Past Political/Civic Experience: -- Winter Garden City Commissioner District 4 (2006 - Present); -- City of Winter Garden, Planning & Zoning Board Member (2005 - 2006); -- Florida League of Cities (past board of directors); -- Winter Garden Community garden founding member; -- Florida Ho
Website: http://www.colindistrict4.com
Email: COLINSHARMAN@CFL.RR.COM
Q: What is your top priority if elected?
Continuing to make Winter Garden the best little city in Florida. I have worked with the city staff and other commissioners to lead Winter Garden out of the economic downturn. Currently, the city is a leader in Orange County and Florida in rising home values which is an economic indicator of the progress we've made thus far. Moving forward, my top priority will be to continue this work to ensure Winter Garden continues to lead. This will be accomplished with the addition of job growth in high paying medical positions and digital technology careers. I believe Winter Garden is and will continue to be the best little city in Florida.
Q: What makes you the best candidate in the race?
My experience with having been the commissioner for District 4 the past 9 years has given me a unique ability to lead Winter Garden through the most challenging economic time in recent history. There is no doubt that Winter Garden is a great City today because the decisions that we have made. I truly believe that Winter Garden is the best place to live, work and play. If the residents in district 4 feel this way too, I would ask that they vote to keep winter garden going in the same direction.
Q: Please list important issues and briefly state your position on those issues.
-- Having our fire department transport patients to the hospital. Currently they are handed off to a third party ambulance company which requires additional time to relay information to the ambulance company. The firefighters are the first ones on the sce
Q: How can you improve Winter Garden?
I am currently working with the Expressway Authority to adjust the current exit from SR429 onto Stoneybrook Parkway/SR535 to better improve the traffic flow at this key intersection near the Winter Garden Village. I am on the Florida Hospital Winter Garden advisory council which is shaping the direction of health care and how these services will be delivered at the new Florida Hospital Winter Garden location. Our residents will soon have quality health care close to home. Hwy 50 corridor improvements phase I incorporated the landscape medians, upgraded traffic lights, crosswalks to add character and beauty. Now we are looking at attracting quality business opportunities for redevelopment of current blighted areas. Currently working on replacing the old hotel and abandoned gas station at 50 and Daniels, with a new Wawa, hotel ,and restaurant.
Q: If you wish to address some issue not listed above, I invite you to submit a brief statement on that matter.
I am proud of all the work we have done in Winter Garden I have been on the commission: -- Interactive Water Park; -- Pavilion; -- Farmer's Market; -- Jessie Brock Community Center; -- Tucker Ranch & Nature Park; -- Westside Town Homes Repaving; -- Roads for Sunridge schools; -- Magic Community Center; -- Plant Street Renovations; -- Bouler Pool / Zanders Park Renovation; -- Highway 50 Landscaping & Upgraded Traffic Lights and Crosswalks; -- Daniels Road 429 Intersection Improvements -- Braddock Park; -- Daniels Road Fire Station; -- Additional Police patrolling District 4; -- Marsh Road Improvements; -- Tilden / 545 Intersection Improvements; -- Approved new Florida Hospital Winter Garden; I'm a native Central Floridian and have been a resident of Winter Garden since 1997. I just celebrated my 20 year anniversary with my wife Cyndi, Having raised 2 boys in the Winter Garden community; I have a vested interest in Winter Gardens future for my family and yours.