Full Legal Name: William E. FishDate of Birth: 1/29/40Place of Birth: Providence, RIOccupation: Retired Lockheed Corp.; substitute teacher, Indian River, St. Lucie countiesMarital Status: Married to Nan ThorntonPlease list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations. Lions Club (NH and FL) 20-plus years, volunteer in math competition and science fair judge in Indian River County. Most relevant experience is 30-plus years in industry.
Candidate Questions 1. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the City of Vero Beach?
Next year’s budget2. The City Council will be asked to vote on implementing changes to the rate structure of the electric utility within the next few weeks. For many residents, this will mean that electric charges will be increased even more. Would you vote in favor of these rate increases?
What increase?
3. The City of Vero Beach presently takes approximately $5.9 million dollars it generates from the electric utility and puts it in the City’s general fund. Would you vote to continue the practice of this transfer each year?
Would continue, but we must keep in mind that the agreement with Indian River County and Indian River Shores expires in 2017
4. City Administrators have stated that stepping away from the Florida Municipal Power Agency and joining the Orlando Utility Authority will drastically lower electric rates starting in January. Do you believe that are up for review, the electric utility rates will significantly be reduced after January 1, 2010?
Yes
5. What suggestions would you make to the City to curtail spending without hurting the present services the City residents currently enjoy?We will continue the hiring freeze
6. What do you think the City should do with the property on the corner of 17th street and Indian River Blvd. where the former postal annex was located?
This is rental property
7. Do you or would you rely more on your own independent research or would you rely more heavily on the opinion of City staff before taking a vote on a particular issue?
I do both
8. The City has brought up the idea of forming an independent Health Clinic for City employees. Would you vote for this initiative? (Please answer Yes or No).
I will do my own research
9. If you could change one thing about how the City is run, what would it be?
The City runs very well which is one of our strengths
10. What about your background, experience or character has best prepared you to handle the day-to-day responsibilities, pressures and intense scrutiny of serving in public office?30-plus years in industry but nothing prepares you for close scrutiny except your ethics and character
