INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Former Indian River County Chamber of Commerce President and well-known architect Anthony Donadio has filed paperwork to run for the District 3 County Commission seat being vacated by Gary Wheeler in November.
With many allies spanning the spectrum of Indian River politics, from builders and developers to local businesses to the firefighters’ union, Donadio would presumably be a favorite to garner much financial support and volunteer labor in a countywide campaign.
Donadio filed without party affiliation Tuesday, meaning he will be on the general election ballot in November, not on the August primary ballot. The August primary is now closed to only those registered Republican.
Had only Republicans filed to run, the primary would have been universal, meaning that voters of any political party or of no party would have been permitted to vote in August and, barring a run-off election, the race would have been decided in the summer. Having a viable candidate in the race in November will involve a broader base of voters who will be in town for the season and who will come out to cast a ballot for President.
Donadio earned his bachelor of science in architecture from Ohio State University in 1975 and moved to Florida in 1979 to take a job as a draftsman in Fort Pierce. He has been a licensed contractor since 1988.
He served as vice president and partner at C.E. Block Architect, Inc. in Vero Beach from 1985 until 1990 when he started his own firm. Since then, he has been president of Donadio & Associates Architect, P.A. on 17th Street in Vero Beach.
In addition to heading up the Chamber’s board for two years, Donadio has served in leadership roles with three professional organizations and more than a dozen local charitable groups.
In an advisory capacity, Donadio has been a member of the Indian River County Historical Resource Committee and the Indian River County Construction Board of Codes & Appeals.
He both lives and owns property in District 3 where he is a 12-year resident of the Rosewood Court neighborhood.
As a non-party-affiliated candidate, Donadio will face the Republican who prevails in the August primary. So far, homebuilder Tim Zorc and retired interior designer and civic activist Bea Gardner have filed and qualified to run as Republicans. The last week to file and pay the fee of about $3,600 is June 8.