Three Candidates Vie for Two SeatsBy Renee Burrell
BELLEAIR - Three candidates will vie for the March 10 election for town commission. Commissioner and vice Mayor Steve Fowler seeks a fifth term. His fellow commissioner, Stephanie Oddo, is running for a second. The third qualifying candidate is Brad Ackerman. We asked the candidates to describe their past experience and the skill sets they would bring to the position if elected. Please describe your perceptions of the duties of a Belleair town commission member: Oddo: Listen and be available to your residents. Understand them without bias or an agenda. Communicate these thoughts effectively to others. Know the issue before acting. Work towards implementing the proper laws and budget appropriations. Solve problems in a respectable, positive manner. Promote understanding and good will. Practice good ethics and fair hearings. Seek and share ideas with other elected-officials in other parts of the County and Florida. Seek education with regard to the latest government practices and laws. Concerning your effectiveness, have you already demonstrated productivity in the office you are seeking, or in another municipal position held? Oddo: During my term as Belleair Town Commissioner I developed a habit of checking my campaign promises; this practice brought me 100% success. These were: 1. Support the redevelopment of the police dept; 2. Promote preservation of historic properties; 3. Protect green spaces; 4. Keep Belleair debt-free; 5. Increase grant-revenue; 6. Initiate Vision Plan for Infrastructure Improvements; 7. Support a Community for all ages – supported the Rec and increasing library reimbursement. I’m proud of two additional things: 1. I laid out the plan for dedication of money for a streetlight fund for updating all existing lights and may add some new. 2. At the Biltmore hearing, I mediated the compromise between Legg-Mason and the Belleair Country Club Annex variance. During my term in office I have completed the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials Training. I was appointed to the Florida League of Cities Finance and Taxation Council and Home Rule. In addition, I have been appointed to the County’s Historic Preservation Board and the Pinellas Planning Council. How has your past experience from those positions/activities prepared you for the unique challenges a Belleair commissioner must face? Oddo: When I first moved into town, I wanted to get to know the people so I started volunteering for the Belleair Civic Association and served in leadership on that board for 2 years. I got involved in Belleair politics when I led a citizen group to study the police issue and also served on the Town’s Historic Preservation Board. Before moving here I was a consultant for government in Washington, D.C. and also a community leader in my past HOAs. I have always worked to benefit my community, wherever I lived, and my election in 2007 to Town Commissioner was a natural progression of my efforts. I also hold a Master’s degree which trained me to be a critical thinker. And of course, I played team sports (soccer) my whole childhood! What are the personal traits you possess that give you the ability to take on the responsibilities of public office? Oddo: I am a problem solver and a hard worker. I do not accept failure or negativism – there is always a way to work it out. I always want to do what is fair. I work with the utmost professionalism and dedication. I care very much about the people who live here. My children, Eddie and Allie, are growing up in Belleair and are two great reasons I want Belleair to succeed in everything we do.
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Please describe your perceptions of the duties of a Belleair town commission member. Ackerman: To be specific, financial oversight is the single most important job of a Belleair Town Commissioner. We owe it to the citizens of Belleair to be good stewards of the town’s revenues. As a corollary to that, the town’s leadership must provide services that are in line with the property taxes the citizens pay. Belleair’s millage rate is significantly higher than most similarly sized cities in Pinellas County. The town’s infrastructure is old, and we need commissioners who can think creatively about income sources to repair it. For example, I have a detailed plan for solar energy creation to meet municipal demands (Town Hall, Dimmitt Center, playing fields, tennis courts) that would not only pay for itself in less than one year, but would produce a significant return on investment for the town every year thereafter. Concerning your effectiveness, have you already demonstrated productivity in the office you are seeking, or in another municipal (or other) position held? Ackerman: Financial oversight being the single most important aspect of a Belleair Commissioner’s duties, I am highly qualified to serve in this role. I have significantly more financial experience than the other candidates, with nearly 15 years in the financial services field. I am a registered principal with one of the largest financial services firms in the world. I currently oversee investment advisers who manage over $35 Billion in assets. I have created and managed departments across a broad array of businesses that have done hundreds of millions of dollars in business. Bottom line is, I know a thing or two about money and how it should be spent. I also know how to work in a collaborative environment to get things done. How has your past experience from those positions/activities prepared you for the unique challenges a Belleair commissioner must face? Ackerman: I have managed large departments and created and administered multi-million dollar budgets. The role of Belleair Commissioner is a seamless transition for me based on my background. The decisions I make every day in my work life can affect thousands of employees and shareholders. I pledge to the citizens of Belleair that my decisions will be based on the type of experience that only I can bring to the commission. Regarding the Biltmore, I feel I can use my background in negotiation and oversight to 1) Resolve the current lawsuit that will ultimately cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, and 2) Keep an eye on the project as it progresses to ensure everyone is playing by the rules. I understand the importance of communicating and working with fellow commissioners to get things done. What are the personal traits you possess that give you the ability to take on the responsibilities of public office? Ackerman: Focus and leadership are the traits that will make me a Commissioner that Belleair can trust. My focus will be on Belleair, and Belleair alone. I am not setting myself up for a future run at a different public office. I am not about joining organizations that take my focus away from Belleair. A big reason I’m running for Commissioner is that I have a lot of experience and knowledge gained through leadership positions to share with fellow commissioners and town staff. Likewise, I look forward to learning from them. I like big ideas, and welcome input from all of the citizens of Belleair. I think the next three years will be the most important and exciting years in Belleair’s history. The decisions that are made will quite frankly, make or break us. In Brad Ackerman, you get a professional who will make Belleair a model of what small towns in Florida aspire to be.
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Please describe your perceptions of the duties of a Belleair town commission member. Fowler: The Mayor and Commissioners should act as a "Board of Directors" and develop the long range plan to keep the Town a truly great place to live. This includes financial and infrastructure issues as well as police, fire department, water, solid waste, and all other aspects of Town business. The Mayor and Commissioners then direct the management and staff of the Town to carry out the day to day affairs, keeping these long range goals in site. Concerning your effectiveness, have you already demonstrated productivity in the office you are seeking, or in another municipal (or other) position held? Fowler: I have served on the commission since 1997 and have lead the effort to develop the new Dimmitt Community Center, as well as keeping our Town's police force. I was part of the team that revised out Town's Comprehensive Plan and effectively prevented the redevelopment and demolition of the Bellview Biltmore Hotel In addition, I have been Chair of the Recreation Board, member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and Chair of the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. How has your past experience from those positions/activities prepared you for the unique challenges a Belleair commissioner must face? Fowler: I am aware of the infrastructure issues facing the Town and have helped in the prioritizing of several projects as how to fit them in the upcoming budget and long range planning. And I have been twice chosen as the "Small Business of the Year" by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce as an indication of my commitment to fair and ethical business practices that I can continue to bring to the Town. What are the personal traits you possess that give you the ability to take on the responsibilities of public office? Fowler: As an architect, we are trained in problem solving and thinking out side the box (no pun intended) to seek creative solutions to issues that the Town faces. And my over twenty years of being active in the Town's growth and development, either as a commissioner or as a board member. |
