Name: David Thomas SnellAge: 54How long living in Indian River County: 13 yearsPlace of Birth: Lakeland, FloridaOccupation: Dynamic Picking System Group LeaderMarital/Family Status: Single parent
Please list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations.
1997-2004 Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Vero Beach, Chief Pilot/Deputy
Developed and headed the Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Unit as Chief Pilot/Deputy Managed 2 pilots – 16 observers and 1 Director of Aircraft Maintenance. Implemented and conducted training courses, wrote Standard Operating Procedures for flight operations.
1989-1997 Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Beach, Fla., Chief Pilot/ Police Officer
Headed the city of Miami Beach Police Department Aviation Unit. Worked with the Motorcycle Traffic Enforcement Unit. Also Served as Internal Affairs Detective – Received Investigative Excellence award 1991. Served as Uniform Patrol – Liberty City Community Relations Investigations.
What issues motivated you to run for this office and what do you hope to accomplish during your term?
1. The main deciding factor for me in choosing to run for County Commissioner this election cycle is that I see very little change in our County. We need people on the Board of County Commissioners who are willing to find a new direction that will make our county prosper with new ideas, dreams and plans for our county. It is time that we have a choice in Indian River County instead of the same candidates running on the same ticket and getting the same results year after year. Some of the issues that I see as critical are the loss of jobs, home foreclosures, loss of businesses, poor decision practices and mismanagement of our citizens tax dollars. Indian River County’s citizens deserve much better than they have gotten over the years with the election of the same people doing the same jobs with a “business as usual” attitude.
2. I believe that I am the best candidate for the job because I feel that our citizens need a new voice and a new direction and I have that voice and can lead our county in a new direction of prosperity for all of our citizens – young and old, rich, poor and middle class. I think it is important that all of the citizens of Indian River have a voice in how our county is run. Past accomplishments in public office are important but far more important are what will be done in the future. We must have people that will fight the good fight and open themselves to the public and subject themselves to the will of the citizens and I pledge to be that person. Without change we die – we must grow and change in order to survive.
Do you support considering the possibility of the county removing itself from the City of Vero Beach’s water and sewer system? What factors would you consider in making a determination whether or not such a change should happen?
*In order for me to support the possibility of the county removing itself from the City of Vero Beach’s water and sewer system it must be proven that any alternative plan was financially and environmentally feasible. What are the pros and cons of such an action -not only for the present time but how it would effect our environment and our sanitation system in years to come? I do not believe in quick fixes – any action produces a reaction – would the reaction be in the best interest of the citizens of Indian River County?
Should the Board of County Commissioners do anything to pressure the City of Vero Beach to sell its electric utility? If so, what could the board do? If not, why not? Do you support petitioning the Public Service Commission to remove non-city electric customers from the city’s power grid?
* I do not believe that any county office should be pressured to do anything but rather they be encouraged to do what is in the best interest of the citizens of Indian River County based on their study of the situation in question.
With unemployment near 15 percent, what do you believe is the county commission’s role in bringing more jobs to Indian River County?
* The County Commission is the eyes and ears of the county – they should be attuned to the needs of its citizen. The commission should actively pursue job opportunities available -such as what companies are looking to relocate and if they would consider Indian River as a viable alternative to other locations available. The state of the national economy is at a critical stage now but the turn around must start somewhere and it is my belief that we must do what we can at a local level to alleviate the problem.