VERO BEACH — As the 2010 election season enters the very early stages, four candidates for the District 2 seat on the Indian River Board of County Commissioners made their debut Friday at the Men’s Republican Breakfast Club.
Described by one candidate as the “opening bell” of what promises to be six months of lively debate until the Republican primary in August, the meeting gave the hopefuls a chance to hone their message before a crowd of about 80 Republican faithful. Not surprisingly, three economic issues — jobs, taxes and growth — dominated the discussion. The proper size and role of local government also struck some chords with attendees.
Each candidate offered a glimpse of a campaign persona and platform bullet points.
Former Vero Beach City Councilman Charlie Wilson, who was called to the podium first, declared himself a conservative, Reagan Repulican and urged his fellow candidates to abide by Reagan’s 11th commandment to not speak ill of a fellow party member.
“I don’t have anything personal against anyone I’m running with, but it’s our job to point out the differences on the issues,” Wilson said.
Wilson offered ten major areas that he feels need attention in order to protect the quality of life for Indian River County residents. Among those were common sense government, tax abatement for businesses, empowering the Sheriff to enforce immigration laws. As Wilson continues his crusade to get the City of Vero Beach out of the electric business, he has also spoke out against the Indian River Neighborhood Association, saying that its anti-growth positions have contributed to high unemployment and taxes.
Carolyn Corum, a Realtor, environmental activist and former Mayor of Sebastian, spoke next, giving an summary of her resume and saying that she understands the very tough job for which she is applying.
“Working on the County Commission, people don’t know it’s a full-time plus overtime job,” she said. “And then you serve on 10 or 12 committees.”
To get that job, Corum said she hopes to dominate the race, winning voters over with her track record of working hard and getting things done. Corum offered a list of projects which she pushed forward, including sidewalks, drainage, utility issues and the expansion of recreational opportunities. Corum, who has admitted to actively courting the endorsement of the IRNA, cited the need to attract “good industry” to the area, cautioned that county policies should continue to control and plan growth.
“If Indian River County didn’t have those policies we would be like South Florida and that would ruin our county,” she said.
Incumbent Joe Flescher’s presentation, while light on issues, focused on his career and family life. A 14-year resident of Sebastian, Flescher offered up his career as law enforcement and his character as a main reason to allow him to retain his seat.
“We’ll debate the issues, but more importantly we need to get to know each other and get to know what direction we need to take the county,” he said, later adding, “I don’t need a platform, Jeffersonian politics belongs outside.”
After the meeting, Flescher affirmed his decision not to use his 10 minutes to list issues or proposals.
“I do not believe in giving people that sort of flowery approach,” he said.
Conversely, former Sebastian City Councilwoman Dale Simchick presented a palette of five issues on which she intends to focus her energies — jobs and job creation, taxes and fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, controlled growth, and finally, the environment.
“I believe we all have a responsibility of being good citizens, involved citizens and informed citzens,” she said.
An employee at the Indian River Sheriff’s Office, a wife, mother, volunteer and former U.S. Marine, Simchick calls herself a “community patriot.”
“I am not a politician, but I do like politics,” she said.
It seems that, whether Indian River County voters themselves like politics or not, this first candidate forum is just the beginning of many months of these types of forums to come.
