Name: Kenny Holmes
Age: 36
How long living in Indian River County: Lifetime
Place of Birth: Vero Beach
Occupation: Retired NFL
Marital/Family Status: (Not answered)
Please list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations.
Board Member of GYAC, Every Dream has a price, Two Homes in one day, Habitat for Humanity, Martha O’Brien Center, Boys and Girls Club, Cancer Society, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Healthy Family Board, VB Benevolent Booster, VB Fighting Indian Booster, Treasure Coast Exchange Club, Honorary Member of Police, All Pro Dads.
What issues motivated you to run for this office and what do you hope to accomplish during your term?
JOBS…this issue is what really motivated me to run for office. I was born and raised in IRC and to see the restaurants close that I grew up frequenting hurts. To see friends and family out of work affects me dearly. I pledge to work hard to bring good paying jobs here and work with Dodgertown to bring more events to our area.
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?
There are great arguments either way, but I am comfortable with us having our own water and sewer, which helps to keep our taxes down. It supplies another revenue stream to pay for the amenities that our county has grown accustomed too.
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?
Yes and no; the city needs to sell and let the private sector (businessmen) deal with running a major business. I’m unsure how much influence the board has on selling, but I would be the first in line to sign a petition to get the ball rolling so to speak. We would have to get educated on who exactly owns what grids in order for the exchange to work properly.
With unemployment near 15 percent, what do you believe is the county commission’s role in bringing more jobs to Indian River County?
It is directly involved and the responsibility completely rests on the shoulders of the commissioners. The county needs to focus and develop the industrial plaza west of town. Invite companies to do business in Vero Beach and let the world know we are open to ideas.