Campaign website: stewart4ws.com
If elected, what are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please list each issue and how you will address them:
Top problem and your suggested solution:
The most pressing problem facing Winter Springs is the cost of living which is tied to taxes and utility costs and will involve the reduction in ad valorem taxes with Amendment 3. I propose 1) requiring the city to adopt a strict ZBB (zero-base budgeting) approach with every department justifying every cost, 2) tasking the city manager with taking a process improvement approach to streamlining city functions to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, 3) improving our business development practices to encourage better development in Winter Springs that both meets the needs of our citizens and increases tax revenue without compromising our infrastructure or creating environmental impact problems.
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Problem 2 and your suggested solution:
Our second most pressing problem is our stormwater infrastructure. Creek cleanup and rehabilitation is only part of the solution, and I pledge to work with our city manager to 1) engage with the municipalities surrounding Winter Springs to help mitigate stormwater runoff from their cities that creates problems for us and 2) employ better stormwater monitoring and control technology to get ahead of flooding problems.
Problem 3 and your suggested solution:
The third major problem that Winter Springs is facing and that I plan to work diligently to fix is bad development. Because of Live Local initiatives from Tallahassee, we need to actively court good development instead of passively wait for bad development to overrun our city. I will build consensus on the commission and work with our city manager and development department staff to encourage business and residential development that not only satisfies our Comprehensive Plan but also preserves our natural resources, increases the beauty of our city, and positively affects both our financial position and the overall quality of life in Winter Springs.
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?
I don’t deserve to be elected, but I believe that I will not only provide skills and insight that will address the current and future needs of our city but improve the level of civility and cohesion on the commission. We have invested 12 years and over $144,000 in our current seat 4 commissioner and it is time to take another approach.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue on a local level?
It is, in my opinion, the biggest issue we are facing. See my answers above.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
I absolutely will vote yes on Amendment 3. Home ownership is essential for building generational wealth and generational wealth is essential for building strong and enduring communities. Lost revenue from ad valorem taxes needs to be offset by 1) increases in municipal productivity and 2) smarter development.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Regulation is only a short-term solution. We Floridians need to innovate, not only improving our infrastructure and especially our electrical grid but also developing cheaper, long-term efficient power sources.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Seminole County?
Residential development.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
This is not pertinent to my race.
Readers shared concern about overdevelopment in the Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs community. We know that local municipalities must plan for density based on state population projections. How will you handle decisions about incoming development and redevelopment that balances the law, the needs of the city and the desires of your constituents?
This is a big question, but in principal, Pandora’s Box suggests that it is a much better approach to go slow and make sure that short as well as long-term municipal needs are being met than either simply going with the flow. Wisdom to uphold the law, understand and fight for the needs of Winter Springs, and developing good rapport with parties interested in developing or redeveloping our city must be balanced.
Local governments continue to increase stormwater rates to pay for drainage projects. At the same time, the city and county commissioners continue to approve development, which eliminates natural drainage and filtration. If elected, what actual, concrete policy steps would you take to address flooding?
Developers must be required to offset the stormwater impacts of their projects to ensure that our stormwater mitigation is improved.
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Residents often complain of high water bills, and water bills that are going up. Can you propose any relief for residents?
In Winter Springs, we need to conduct an updated rate study with an eye to identifying actual costs to the citizens now and potentially reducing financial commitments to long-term projects.
What steps would you take to ensure elected officials don’t personally profit from development?
Elected officials need to voluntarily submit to greater financial accountability, and independent of the government, we really need a stronger Fouth Estate (journalism).
What are candidates willing to do to restore respect for the election process?
I am running a clean race and staying away from political mudsling. We need to focus on policy and not propaganda.
Winter Springs has the highest percentage of residential tax base in the county. What solutions would you propose? And what ideas do you have to revitalize the Winter Springs Town Center?
We need to engage in positive, pro-active development that seeks to encourage businesses that will both thrive and provide wanted services and solid tax revenue to the city. Historically, we have taken a defensive, if not passive approach to development, and that needs to change.
As a city commissioner or mayor, will you pledge to accept the recommendations from the Charter Review Commission as presented, with no changes?
I will certainly take their recommendations seriously, but it would be imprudent to pledge unqualified support to the unknown.
This Voter Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. Questions for the candidates were created by members of the collaborative and shared with candidates to answer. Attempts were made to contact all candidates to answer our questions – many responded but some did not. If a candidate did not respond, we have done our best to provide answers to our questions based on candidates’ websites, social media posts or public comments. For more information about the News Collaborative of Central Florida, click here.
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