Full Legal Name: Brian T. HeadyDate of Birth: 10/16/1947Place of Birth: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.Length of residence in Indian River County: 20-plus years in Vero Beach 18-plus years.Occupation: Semi-retiredEmployer: Veterans Council / Department Veterans AffairsLocation of work: Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach counties.Marital status: MarriedChildren: YesGrandchildren: Yes
Experience you feel is most relevant to serving in public office and why.
I have been regularly attending Vero Beach government meetings for 20 years and I know the players and I know the game. I have on numerous occasions reported to the public at the public podium when public officials have misused their position of public trust to enrich themselves or their friends wrongfully at the public expense. As I city council member I would have more than three minutes to exercise influence to stop this abuse of our collective tax dollars.
Please list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations.
I have worked many, many projects over the years such as the renovation of the Heritage Center, building of the old creative playground, the building of homes for needy families, hurricane recovery, beach cleanups, and I have also served on several advisory committees. In these organizations I have served both as a board member, executive committee member, officer and president.
Candidate Questions
1. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the City of Vero Beach?
The high tax, which is supported and supplemented by high electric rates.
2. 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?
No
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?
No
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 Jan. 1, 2010?
No
5. What suggestions would you make to the City to curtail spending without hurting the present services the City residents currently enjoy?
There are several areas that where expenses could be reduced such as the high cost of city council members travel expenses to far-away places.
6. What do 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?
Sell it, or lease or look at other alternatives but letting it sit empty and only costing the taxpayers with no benefit as has been done is clearly not a intelligent choice.
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 would use my own research to compare with the opinion of staff and then make the most cost effective decisions for the taxpaying citizens.
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).
No
9. If you could change one thing about how the City is run, what would it be?
I would change the free hand given to administrators with little or no oversight by city council.
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?
My management experience in public and private entities give be the experience, my involvement in Vero Beach over 20 years give me the knowledge, and my willingness to stand alone at the public podium and report to the public when they are being taken unfair advantage of be self-serving officials has more than demonstrated the character needed to do the job.