Question 1

Why are you running for Howey Town Council?

Accepted Answer

I’m running because I care deeply about the future of Howey-in-the-Hills. We have a special community, and I believe we can protect the small-town character we value while making thoughtful decisions about what comes next. I’ve spent more than 40 years in public service, 30 as an employee of the town, and I’m ready to put that experience to work for our residents. My goal is simple: listen, make responsible decisions, and help ensure Howey remains a great place to live.

Question 2

What are your top priorities for Howey-in-the-Hills?

Accepted Answer

My priorities center around three things: protecting our small-town character, managing growth responsibly, and maintaining strong fiscal stewardship. Those priorities are closely connected. As Howey grows, we need to make sure our infrastructure and services can support that growth, while being careful with taxpayer dollars and preserving the qualities that make people want to call Howey home in the first place.

Question 3

What does “responsible growth” mean to you?

Accepted Answer

Responsible growth means looking beyond what works today and considering how decisions will affect Howey five, ten, and twenty years from now. Growth should make sense for our community, our infrastructure, and our financial resources. I believe we should carefully evaluate development, understand its long-term impact, and make sure roads, utilities, public safety, and other essential services can keep pace. Growth is going to happen. Our responsibility is to manage it wisely rather than simply react to it and to ultimately ensure the Town is sustainable.

Question 4

How will you help protect Howey’s small-town character?

Accepted Answer

Howey’s character is one of our greatest assets. Protecting it doesn’t mean resisting every change; it means making sure change respects what makes this community special. That includes thoughtful planning, appropriate development, protecting our natural beauty, and maintaining the sense of community residents value. I want us to move forward without losing the identity that makes Howey-in-the-Hills different from the communities around us.

Question 5

What experience do you bring to the Town Council?

Accepted Answer

I bring more than 40 years of public service and experience making decisions where accountability matters. I’ve had the opportunity to serve as a Police Chief, Mayor, and Town Council Member. Each of those roles taught me something different about leadership—how to listen, manage budgets and resources, work with people who have different perspectives, solve problems, and make difficult decisions when necessary. I believe that combination of experience gives me a broad perspective that will serve Howey well on the Town Council. In addition, I spent 30 years of my law enforcement career as an employee with the Town of Howey.

Question 6

How will you make sure residents have a voice in Town decisions?

Accepted Answer

Good government starts with listening. Residents should know what is happening in their Town and have meaningful opportunities to be heard before important decisions are made. I believe in open communication, transparency, and being accessible to the people I represent. We won’t always agree on every issue—and that’s okay. What matters is that residents are treated respectfully, their concerns are considered, and decisions are made based on what is best for the community as a whole.

Question 7

How much additional residential development do you believe Howey-in-the-Hills can reasonably absorb over the next five years without negatively affecting existing residents?

Accepted Answer

I don’t think that question can responsibly be answered with a specific number of homes without first looking at the infrastructure needed to support them. We need to know what has already been approved, what is actually expected to be built within that five-year period, and what that means for water, wastewater, roads, drainage, police, fire and other Town services.Some development rights are already in place, so the first step is giving residents a clear picture of what is already coming. From there, I believe additional growth should be considered based on whether our infrastructure and services can reasonably support it without placing an unfair burden on existing residents.

Question 8

Would you vote to approve a development if the roads, water, sewer, drainage, police and fire infrastructure needed to support it are not already funded or guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

I would have a very difficult time supporting new development without a clear and financially realistic plan for the infrastructure it requires.That doesn’t necessarily mean every improvement has to be physically constructed before the first approval is given, because development and infrastructure are often phased. But funding, responsibilities, timelines and enforceable commitments should be clearly established. I don’t believe “we’ll figure it out later” is a responsible growth strategy.

Question 9

Should existing residents ever have to pay higher taxes or utility rates to correct infrastructure deficiencies created by new development?

Accepted Answer

As a general principle, new growth should pay its fair share of the costs created by that growth.There are situations where infrastructure serves the entire community and determining who pays what can become more complicated. But I would not support knowingly shifting costs created primarily by new development onto existing residents simply because that is the easiest way to fund them.That is why impact fees, developer agreements and infrastructure planning are so important.

Question 10

Are Howey’s current impact fees sufficient? Would you support an updated impact-fee study?

Accepted Answer

Before saying the current fees are sufficient or insufficient, I would want to see the data supporting them and when they were last comprehensively evaluated.If our current fees are based on outdated assumptions about construction costs, infrastructure needs or growth projections, then yes, I would support having them professionally reviewed. Impact fees have legal requirements and limitations, so any changes need to be supported by a proper study and comply with Florida law.The goal shouldn’t be to charge the highest fee possible. It should be to make sure growth is paying the appropriate share of the infrastructure necessitated by growth.

Question 11

What is Howey’s current water capacity, what will it be after the new infrastructure is completed, and when should development stop because of water limitations?

Accepted Answer

The capacity numbers are exactly the kind of information I believe the Town should be presenting clearly to residents. I would want the most current engineering and utility data before quoting a number.More importantly, we should be looking beyond whether we technically have capacity today. We need to understand existing commitments, projected demand from developments already approved, available capacity after those commitments, and when additional improvements will be required.If the professional data shows we cannot reliably serve additional development, I would not support pretending otherwise simply to approve another project.

Question 12

How much wastewater-treatment capacity does Howey have, and what happens when it is reached?

Accepted Answer

This is another question where I would want current, verified information from the Town and its utility partners rather than give residents a number I cannot substantiate.What concerns me more is whether we have a feasible long-term plan. In a clear and easy format, residents should be able to see our available capacity, how much has already been committed, projected demand from approved growth, and what happens when we approach that limit.Those conversations need to happen well before we reach a crisis.

Question 13

What improvements to SR 19 should occur before additional large developments are approved?

Accepted Answer

SR 19 is one of the issues that demonstrates why development decisions cannot be made in isolation. Traffic from one project becomes part of the cumulative traffic everyone experiences.Because SR 19 is a state roadway, the Town cannot independently solve every issue associated with it. That makes coordination with FDOT, Lake County and developers even more important. The developer has a responsibility to coordinate with FDOT, Lake County, and the Town. Traffic studies are required for all developments.Before supporting significant new development that materially impacts SR 19, I would want to understand the traffic analysis, what improvements are warranted, who is responsible for them, when they will occur and whether those commitments are enforceable.

Question 14

What is your position on Number Two Road? Should the Town accept responsibility for any portion of it?

Accepted Answer

I would not support the Town accepting a significant new financial or maintenance obligation without knowing exactly what we are accepting and what it will cost taxpayers—not just today, but over the long term.If Number Two Road is necessary to accommodate development traffic, then the developers benefiting from and contributing to that need should be part of the financial solution.Before making a decision, I would want engineering information, traffic projections, improvement costs, ownership and maintenance responsibilities, and a clear understanding of the long-term liability to the Town.

Question 15

How will you address traffic from developments outside Howey that affect CR 48, SR 19 and Number Two Road?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the frustrating realities of growth. Our residents can experience the traffic impacts of development even when Howey had no vote in approving that development.That requires the Town to be much more engaged regionally with Lake County, neighboring municipalities and FDOT. We need to participate early in transportation planning and advocate for Howey when projects outside our boundaries affect our roads and residents.We cannot control every development around us, but we can make sure Howey has a strong voice at the table. In my opinion we do not currently have strong relationships with external partners.

Question 16

Would you make development agreements, traffic studies, capacity analyses and developer obligations easily accessible before Council votes?

Accepted Answer

Yes.If Council is being asked to rely on information to make a decision, residents should have reasonable access to that same information.I would like to see major development information organized in a way an average resident can actually find and understand—not buried across multiple meeting packets or posted so late that meaningful review is difficult.Transparency isn't just making a document technically available. It means giving people a reasonable opportunity to understand what is being proposed before a decision is made.

Question 17

When would you vote no on development even if Town staff recommended approval?

Accepted Answer

Staff recommendations are important, and I respect the professional role of Town staff. But the Council is elected to make the final decisions.I could vote no if I believed a proposal was inconsistent with the Town’s long-term interests, placed unreasonable infrastructure or financial burdens on residents, created impacts that had not been adequately addressed, required changes I did not believe were justified, or simply did not provide enough information for me to make a responsible decision.A staff recommendation would carry weight with me, but it would not replace my responsibility to independently evaluate the issue and vote accordingly.

Question 18

Would you accept campaign contributions from developers or others with development interests before the Town? Would you recuse yourself?

Accepted Answer

I believe every elected official has an obligation to follow Florida's ethics and voting-conflict laws and to disclose campaign contributions as required by law.A campaign contribution does not buy my vote. Period.If a matter created a legal voting conflict requiring disclosure or abstention, I would follow those requirements. Beyond the legal requirements, I also believe elected officials need to be mindful of public trust and avoid situations where residents have legitimate reason to question whose interests are being represented.My decisions will be based on what I believe is in the best interest of Howey in collaboration with the residents I serve.

Question 19

What standard would you use when considering Comprehensive Plan changes or increased density?

Accepted Answer

My starting point would be simple: Why is this change necessary, and how does it benefit Howey?If someone purchases property with certain development rights, I don't believe the Town automatically owes them additional density simply because more density makes a project more profitable.I would consider compatibility with surrounding areas, infrastructure capacity, traffic, environmental impacts, the Town's Comprehensive Plan, the character of the community and what the Town receives in return for making the change.The Comprehensive Plan should mean something. Changes should be justified, not routine.

Question 20

What does “preserving small-town character” mean in actual policy?

Accepted Answer

To me, preserving Howey’s small-town character is about more than density, lot sizes or building heights. Those things matter, but the character of a town also comes from the people who live here and how we treat one another.It’s knowing your neighbors, looking out for one another, being able to disagree without becoming enemies, welcoming new residents into the community, supporting our local businesses and traditions, and remembering that at the end of the day, we all call the same small town home. I think Town leadership has a role in setting that tone too. We should encourage conversation and participation, even when opinions differ.From a policy standpoint, preserving that character means being thoughtful about density, compatible development, building scale and height, green space, traffic, commercial development, annexation and how new neighborhoods connect with the community that is already here. Growth should complement Howey rather than redefine it.I also recognize that Howey is going to change. Preserving our small-town character doesn’t mean trying to freeze the Town in time or closing the door behind us. It means managing change intentionally while holding onto the things that make Howey feel like Howey.Twenty years from now, I hope we can look around and see a Town that has grown and evolved, but still feels like the community people chose to call home—and where neighbors still feel like neighbors.

Question 21

What is your position on annexing additional property for development?

Accepted Answer

I don't believe annexation should automatically be considered good simply because it increases the Town's boundaries or tax base.I would want to know what the annexation brings to Howey, what development rights are being requested, what infrastructure will be necessary, who will pay for it, and what long-term obligations the Town is assuming.The question shouldn't just be, "What does this property generate?" It should also be, "What will this property cost us to serve?"

Question 22

How many additional police officers, firefighters/EMS resources and pieces of equipment will be necessary as Howey grows, and how will we pay for them?

Accepted Answer

I wouldn’t give you a specific number without a staffing and service-level analysis. Anything else would be guessing.Having served in public safety, I know population is only one factor in determining staffing needs. Calls for service, response times, geography, development patterns, traffic, types of calls and the level of service our residents expect all matter.We also have to look beyond Howey’s town limits. A tremendous amount of growth has already been approved by Lake County and surrounding cities. While those new residents may not live in Howey or contribute tax revenue to our Town, that growth still affects us. More vehicles travel through Howey, traffic increases on the roads our residents use, and regional growth can place additional demands on police, fire and EMS resources. Those impacts are very real even when the corresponding revenue goes somewhere else.That’s why public safety has to be part of the growth conversation—not just after thousands of additional residents arrive, but well before. We need to understand both the impact of growth within Howey and the regional growth happening around us, plan accordingly, and work with Lake County and our neighboring communities where those impacts overlap. Another reason we need a seat with a voice at the table.Staffing, vehicles, equipment and facilities all cost money. As we plan for Howey’s future, we need to be looking at the true public-safety impact of growth—both the growth we approve and the growth happening around us.

Question 23

Will you tell residents what approved and proposed developments are projected to cost the Town over five and ten years, not just what they generate in impact fees?

Accepted Answer

I would absolutely support better long-range fiscal impact information.Revenue is only half of the equation. More residents can mean additional revenue, but they can also mean additional personnel, public safety resources, road maintenance, utilities, facilities and other operating expenses year after year.When evaluating major development, I want to understand both sides of that ledger. All residents should.

Question 24

How will you ensure cumulative development doesn't worsen flooding and drainage?

Accepted Answer

This is extremely important because water doesn't recognize subdivision boundaries.Looking only at whether an individual development meets its own stormwater requirements may not always tell us what happens when multiple developments are built within the same watershed or drainage area.I would rely on our engineers and applicable regulatory agencies, but I would also ask about cumulative impacts—particularly where existing neighborhoods already experience drainage or flooding concerns. If the data identifies a problem, it needs to be addressed before we make it worse.

Question 25

How should the Town hold developers accountable if promised improvements haven't occurred five years later?

Accepted Answer

The best time to establish accountability is before the development is approved.Developer obligations should be clearly documented with measurable requirements, timelines and appropriate enforcement mechanisms. The Town should also have a system for tracking those commitments so they don't disappear into an old agreement after a Council changes or staff members leave.If an obligation is legally enforceable, I expect the Town to enforce it. Agreements don't mean much if no one follows up on them.

Question 26

When the interests of existing residents conflict with the financial benefits of additional development, whose interests should receive priority?

Accepted Answer

I don't think every development decision has to be framed as existing residents versus new residents or developers. Good growth can benefit a community.But the people who already live here absolutely deserve to be considered first when we evaluate how a decision will affect their taxes, utilities, traffic, public safety, infrastructure and quality of life.Economic benefit alone isn't enough reason to approve something. My responsibility as a Councilmember would be to look at the whole picture and ask whether the decision is good for Howey as a community, not simply whether it adds property to the tax rolls.That's also why I keep coming back to communication. Residents need to know what has already been approved, what can still be changed, what options are actually available and what the consequences of those options are. Then we need to give people a meaningful opportunity to participate—including holding workshops and discussions at times when working residents can actually attend.One council member cannot satisfy every resident with their vote, but every resident has the right to know and understand the facts I considered, why I voted the way I did, and know they had an opportunity to be heard before the decision was made.

Frequent Asked Questions