Nonpartisan Candidate for Belle Isle City Council, District 5
Education: June 1959, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN
Occupation: Retired Mechanical Engineer
Home: Belle Isle
Age: 84
Past Political/Civic Experience: Belle Isle City Commission, 9 years; Belle Isle Planning and Zoning Board, 2 years; Sheriff's Citizen on Patrol, 5 years, U.S. Presidential Award; Knights of Columbus, Council 5958, 17 years, past financial trustee and membership director; Central Orlando Kiwanis Club, 14 years, past president, vice-president and treasurer
Website: http://www.ReadyForReadey.com
Email: ReadyForReadey@gmail.com
Q: What is your top priority if elected?
Quality of life in Belle Isle has always been my top concern. Today, Belle Isle has so much to offer that I believe our best course of action is to simply focus on these strengths as we work on maintaining our city infrastructure and steadily improving city services. We don't need a revolution in Belle Isle right now, but a little evolution never hurts. By focusing on low municipal taxes, community synergy, active patrols, lake preservation and local property values, we can make a series of small improvements that will add up to a better Belle Isle for residents and potential purchasers alike.
Q: What makes you the best candidate in the race?
I believe my education, years of civic service, and consistent voting record are what really set me apart in this election. Residents all around Belle Isle, and especially in my own district, know me as someone who evaluates research and asks questions to ensure that we are always doing what is best for the people of Belle Isle. As a retired mechanical engineer, I have the needed background to comprehensively review plans brought before the City Council. I like to check that residents are really getting what they need and at a good value. But questioning aside, my voting record clearly reflects that at the end of the day, I have always stood firmly behind our residents and the Belle Isle city services they love, such as the Belle Isle Police Department and Cornerstone Charter Academy.
Q: Please list important issues and briefly state your position on those issues.
Low Taxes – Belle Isle boasts one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Central Florida. I believe that we can maintain this low tax rate and improve the city services that residents love through responsible spending, innovation, and by harnessing the efforts of the many talented individuals who are seeking volunteer opportunities in our community.; Community Synergy – Synergy is the idea that cooperation between entities can create something greater than the sum of their separate efforts. Belle Isle has historically had some difficulties working effectively with its neighbors to achieve maximum efficiency, but I hope to help that change. Our Belle Isle Police Department is now working cooperatively with the Edgewood Police Department, creating significantly better service levels for both cities without any increase in taxpayer costs, and I intend to continue this trend of building synergy with our surrounding community.; Active Patrols – Solving crimes is great, but preventing them is even better. I believe strongly in effective deterrence through active police patrols, which is why I volunteered as a local "Citizen On Patrol" for many years in our community. In addition to the BIPD's excellent service, there are inexpensive ways we can further increase deterrence, including community education on security issues as well as an official Belle Isle neighborhood watch program.; Lake Preservation –The Conway chain of lakes is probably the single biggest draw to the City of Belle Isle, and we must be responsible and proactive in maintaining lake health. An investment in water quality is an investment in our community's future.; Property Values – Promoting family home ownership in Belle Isle is vital. As real estate agent said to me once, "no one in the history of the world has ever washed a rented car." I believe in supporting and improving the city services that make our town attractive to home buyers, especially families and first-time purchasers looking to settle down in Belle Isle.
Q: How can you improve Belle Isle?
There are so many ways that we can improve Belle Isle with no additional cost, or at extremely minimal cost, to our taxpayers. The recent agreement between the Belle Isle and Edgewood police departments is a great example. It allows each city to have faster response times as well as additional police forces available when required, all at no additional cost to the residents of either city. I am also in full support of the BIPD's recent push towards establishing a Belle Isle neighborhood watch program as well as a potential "Citizen On Patrol" volunteer vehicle. I strongly believe in considering new ideas and new technologies to see if they are right for our city. For example, some of our city commissioners have been exploring a possible strategic partnership with UCF to utilize cutting edge research and technology to improve our local water quality. Some of these new ideas will be right for our city and some will not, but we'll never know unless we explore all the options and ask the tough questions to determine what is in the best interests of our residents.
Q: If you wish to address some issue not listed above, I invite you to submit a brief statement on that matter.
I'm not a great politician or salesman. I often say what I really think, not necessarily what people want to hear. But my message has been clear and consistent throughout this campaign, regardless of audience. I have never accepted assistance from a Political Action Committee, commissioned a political survey, sent out political mailers, or utilized any sort of political consultant. I don't even spring for color flyers. My campaign "staff" and donor list are comprised entirely of resident volunteers living in or around my district, supporting me for no other reason than their appreciation of my service to our Belle Isle community. I want thank each of them enormously for all their help over the past couple months, and for all the help they have pledged in the remaining weeks leading up to March 10!