An Islamorada community faced with a workforce housing shortage, traffic backups, and deteriorating infrastructure will have a chance to cast votes for four open council seats in the November election. The Keys Weekly posed the following questions to the candidates, who were asked to provide their responses in roughly 150 words.

What’s your vision for the future of Islamorada?

SEAT 1

Buddy Pinder
A place that future generations can afford to live in, with all the great things we have as a community still in place: healthy water, a healthy environment, and long-term goals for sustainability actually implemented.

Van Cadenhead
Unless the citizens of Islamorada become more aware of their precarious situation and more involved in its solutions, my vision for Islamorada’s future is dark indeed. The Sportfishing Capital of the World, my old stomping grounds since age 7, has turned, by virtue of a Tsunami of Greed, financed by deep pockets of crass commercial cretins, charlatan carpetbaggers from Somewhere Else, into the Horrible Whoredom of Property Prostitution. The new owners of Islamorada, masters of the exclusive elitist enclave, care not a whit about the residents, environment, or cultural heritage of the town; they worship at the shrine of Ben Franklin, not the guy who discovered electricity but the guy on the $100 bill. Unless the residents of Islamorada perceive their peril and rise up en masse to oppose it, the future is dark indeed. Don’t let it be so. RISE UP!

SEAT 2

Anna Richards
My vision for the future of Islamorada is one of sustainable growth and community prosperity. I envision a vibrant and inclusive community that preserves our natural beauty and marine resources while fostering economic development and opportunities for all residents. By prioritizing environmental conservation, promoting tourism in a responsible manner, and investing in infrastructure and services that enhance the quality of life for residents, we can create a thriving and resilient community. Collaboration with residents, transparent governance, and a commitment to innovation will be key in shaping a future where Islamorada remains a desirable place to live, work, and visit for generations to come.

Capt. Steve Friedman
We must protect our local economy by protecting our water and guarding against overdevelopment. It’s been a quarter-of-a-century since the Village updated its comprehensive plan. Fortunately, the Village has retained a consulting firm to help update the comprehensive plan. I’m a big believer in planning your work, then working your plan. Our goal is to make our planning process a community conversation. We should encourage more engagement from our local residents in our planning process. Finally, my belief is all future development must be fair and equitable; respectful of property rights; responsive to strains on our infrastructure; fiscally responsible; compliant with state and federal statutes that protect our fisheries, migratory and nesting birds, etc.; and most importantly, extremely sensitive to our environment and water quality. We want our local government to be efficient and fiscally responsible while providing quality public services and protecting our local waters from pollution and overdevelopment.

SEAT 3

Deb Gillis
My vision for Islamorada is to protect our small-town way of life while addressing the pressing issues we face, like affordable housing and maintaining unity in our community. I’m committed to completing the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations (LDRs) rewrite to ensure that any future development aligns with our values and preserves the character of our village. I’ve always believed in bringing people together, even when there are differences of opinion, because when we work as one, we can create a future that benefits everyone. My goal is to balance progress with the preservation of what makes Islamorada unique and special. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Mary Barley
Good policy makes good vision. Good decisions are good vision. Spending taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars wisely and efficiently at the lowest rate possible is good vision. Our mission statement states our values and should be the guiding light.

SEAT 4

Don Horton
My vision is to have a council that doesn’t “govern by crisis or personal agendas” but makes smart decisions for long-term results. I recently met with younger community members involved with family businesses or starting their own. Their concerns were related to new or renovation of homes and affordability. I encouraged them to participate in the Comprehensive Plan process. This document will guide us for the next 15 to 20 years; they need to take part in the discussion. I envision workforce housing that doesn’t detract from the quaint atmosphere in the Village, more municipal parking so people stop parking randomly in Village ROWs, and the possibility of a looped inner-city transit system that is clean, reliable, and timely—one that can move our citizens around the traffic caused by folks traveling south. I also envision cutting overhead and operational costs without interfering with essential services.

Tom Raffanello
The Village suffers from a lack of leadership and strategic planning. It has been run into the ground by builders, advocates of developers, and self-serving council persons over the past two decades. MY VISION is to “Protect the Residents’ Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Life; To Plan for Enhancing Our Village Character; To Preserve Our Community; Its People, Natural Resources, and Pride; To Provide Basic Services to Support our Quality of Life.” That is Islamorada’s mission, which has gotten lost. This will be my ONLY full-time job. I will have no distractions. This election is critical to the survival of Islamorada. We are told to believe that those who took advantage of the holes in our comprehensive plan now know how to fix it twenty years later. Why now? Don’t believe it. Elections have consequences. Vote for a candidate with 20 years of executive management and skills necessary to understand and impact all aspects of government. I solve problems and make decisions. There is more to managing a Village than rezoning and building permits—so much more.