(Also a parent and an Islamorada resident and taxpayer.)

Election Day is tomorrow.  If you haven’t voted, please do.

Just some observations:

1.  Four contested seats, with four incumbents running for reelection

2.   One incumbent switched seats minutes before the deadline to run against another incumbent. I guess they didn’t want him to run unopposed.

3.   Four candidates have businesses and are Chamber of Commerce members

4.   Four candidates are not Chamber members

5.   Many campaign signs all seem to be bunched together – either promoting one of a group of 4 or the other. (Shame on us voters if an election is decided by who has the most signs).

6.   All eight candidates seem to have the same priorities according to their campaign materials:

·      Protecting the environment

·      Controlling taxes

·      Public Participation

So how’s a voter to know whether to trust a campaign promise?

Logically, all incumbents should have achievements from their two-year terms in office.

That should be their platform… a “look what we did” platform.

The campaign promises and/or list of accomplishments should help voters decide who is aligned with their interests. 

I submit that the incumbents should run on their record. What promises did they keep? Are they making the same ones again?

• Most of the incumbent’s promised to lower spending (taxes were increased by 15% in their tenure).

• Most promised a Strategic Plan for our Village. (none were submitted)

• Just one always voted to protect the environment, the Bay and the Everglades.

• There were promises of addressing traffic. (but traffic is worse).

• There were promises of “controlled growth.” (judge that for yourself)

Ignoring campaign promises and taking liberty with the facts is a time-honored political tradition.

The mayor even has a video bragging of his accomplishments. (yet some were put in motion by the prior council)  Our staff and several village managers were the impetus behind many of the “accomplishments.”

The mayor is taking credit for completing the disastrous stalled culvert project that has been aggravating Lower Matecumbe residents and the Sea Base for almost a year.

No status, no updates on this unfinished costly project.

Judging the new candidates is much trickier.

New candidates use promises to show what issues matter to them and how they intend to govern. Will they deliver?  Who among them has already been involved? Who do you trust?

Environment: What voter in the Keys isn’t concerned about protecting our environment? It is a no-brainer.

The environment is exactly what the Chamber promotes to help local businesses.  It is why people love the area. Of course it is a priority, even for the Chamber members while primarily advocating for business.

But, if elected, will any of the candidates go soft on environmental issues?

Check who is contributing to fund the candidates’ campaigns.

Controlling Taxes: That’s easy enough.

For incumbents, keeping the millage rate the same in their two-year term is NOT an achievement. It’s a tax increase.

REDUCING taxes for taxpayers would be an UNPRECEDENTED achievement.

Incumbents approved a 15% tax increase over the last two years.

Do the opponents have a better promise?

They promise they will cut waste and programs that have outlasted their usefulness. Not done in the Village 27-year existence. Will it ever happen?

Public Participation: That’s an easy one. 

Are you satisfied with public involvement over the last two years implemented by a majority of council?

Who allowed budget meetings at 3 pm when the residents are at work?

Who allowed 500 - 900 page agendas available to the public for just 72 hours before meetings?

Some of the incumbents insist residents don’t show up at meetings because they “are happy” with Village government.

Yet some of the candidates believe public participation is a critical concern and needs significant effort to make it better.  But will that happen?

A better way to know the priorities of the candidates: Check who is contributing to the campaigns. These folks probably did their homework before spending big dollars.

Who is getting monetary support from environmentalists and who is not?

Who is getting big checks from developers, land use lawyers, corporate interests and those who stand to gain financially from future council decisions if more growth is allowed.

Now it is up to the community to decide whether they are pleased with the direction of Council or if they’d like to see change.  

Take a good look at the candidates. Their record. Their funding.

And most importantly – their qualifications to represent you.

Elections are about vision, ideas and leadership.

It is your decision, do your homework. It is not just a popularity contest.

Tom