Name: Anthony “Tony” Donadio
Age: 59
Party: Registered Republican, Running as a No Party Affiliation
Contact Info: 1665 East Rosewood Court, Vero Beach, 32966
How long living in Indian River County: 23-year resident in Indian River County
Place of Birth: Niles, Ohio
Occupation: President/Owner-Donadio & Associates Architects, P.A. 1990 to Present
Family: Widower; 3 Sons: Anthony – 26, Michael – 24, Mark – 15.
Please list Civic and Volunteer Leadership Experience including title & position and Organization including dates and locations.
- Indian River Medical Center – Board Member, 2006 to present
- Indian River Medical Center-Chairman Building and Grounds Committee, 2007 to Present
- Indian River County Chamber of Commerce – Board Member, 2008 to present
- Indian River County Chamber of Commerce – Co-Chairman, Economic Leadership Alliance Committee, 2008 to present
- Children’s Home Society – Board Member, 2011 to Present
- American Cancer Society – Co-Chairman Annual Fundraising Committee, 2011 to Present
- United Way of Indian River County – Capital Campaign Committee Member, 2012/2013
- Member Treasure Coast Chapter American Institute of Architects – Member, 1985 to Present
- Indian River Fire Girls – Fundraising Committee, 2011 to Present
- Indian River Exchange Club – Member, 1984 to Present
- 100 Club – Member, 2006 to Present
- 100 Club – Board Member, 2012 to Present
- Harvest Food of St. Lucie County – Board Member, 2010 to Present
- Knights of Columbus 3rd Degree Member, Council 7514, 1979 to Present
- St. John of the Cross Catholic Church – Member, 2007 to Present
- St. Helen’s Catholic Church – Member, 1989 to 2007
What issues motivated you to run for this office and what do you hope to accomplish during your term?
The top four issues that motivate me to seek this office are: 1. Jobs, 2. Taxes, 3. Indian River Lagoon and 4. Recreation.
My vision of accomplishment during my term in office are as follows:
- Promote creative concepts for Economic Growth.
- Stabilize and Grow our Tax Base.
- Protect and Enhance the Indian River Lagoon.
- Promote Indian River County and Sports Village as a sporting destination.
What makes you qualified to run for this position?
I am running for County Commission because I have the experience, dedication and integrity we need to move Indian River County forward. This election is not only about the issues facing the County today, but also about those issues we’ll be facing in the future. I am in this race to make a DIFFERENCE in our community. I have a demonstrated passion for our Indian River County.
For over 30 years, my relationship with Indian River County has been one of strong personal, professional and philanthropic ties. My career and community service has challenged me to have Vision, Accountability, Leadership and Responsibility. I fervently believe these traits are necessary at the County Commission level. My professional career reflects my beliefs of conservative values and fiscal responsibility. I’m committed to limited government, free market solutions and keeping a vigilant watch on our County government. We need to continue finding ways to use our tax dollars wisely to help keep Indian River County an affordable and attractive place to live and do business.
Tony Donadio is:
- A successful business owner for over 22 years, who has balanced budgets, produced payrolls and made tough business decisions while paying all my bills.
- A fiscally responsible person with conservative values.
- A business owner who understands budgets and surviving in difficult times.
- A person dedicated and committed to this Community.
- A person that has a proven record of leadership and an understanding of the needs of our community.
- A person with extensive community board experience.
- A person who knows how to listen and understands the issues of our County.
- A family man with grounded traditional values.
What is your position on the potential sale of the City of Vero Beach’s electric utility to Florida Power and Light? What, if anything, could or should the Board of County Commissioners do to influence the process one-way or the other? What should the commission do for those electric customers who live outside the city in the unincorporated portion of the county?
The potential sale of the City of Vero Beach’s electric utility to Florida Power and Light is the right thing to do for our community as a whole and especially for those County customers receiving service from the City of Vero Beach. The savings to the County customers of approximately $11million per year is the single most important reason County Commissioners need to let the appropriate officials know that they and the county customers are supportive of the sale.
For those electric customers who live outside the city in the unincorporated portion of the county, the County Commission needs to proceed with a countywide survey of the residents regarding their preference to power company providers and provide any other support necessary to make this sale happen in the best interest of the City and County customer.
With unemployment at about 10 percent, what do you believe is the County Commission’s role in bringing more jobs to Indian River County? Do you support tax abatements and jobs grants to attract new businesses and encourage expansion of existing businesses?
The expected growth in our economy is forecast to be 2.2 percent and the projected unemployment to be 8.0 percent nationally, and 10.1 percent locally. Knowing that if this is a national trend, then the numbers will be even more severe in Indian River County. With that said, we will need to reach out with and promote programs that assist our local business base. We need to establish good economic vitality in the community through more diverse jobs, increased tourism and promoting our quality of life. Additional funding is needed if our County is to compete with other areas of the country that are also trying to create new jobs. It takes money and time to get to where we need to be. It will take more dollars to market this County and I do not believe we should depend on government alone to pick up that entire tab.
Our Chamber of Commerce is designated as the County’s primary economic development agency to recruit new industry and assist in the growth and expansion of existing industry. The Chamber holds a memo of understanding with Enterprise Florida as the economic development organization for Indian River County. A Chamber effort to increase economic development private sector investments through the formation of the “Economic Leadership Alliance” raised over $55,450 in new private sector funds this year. Jay Hart of Wells Fargo Bank and I led the campaign. The primary objective of the Economic Leadership Alliance is to lead the way to economic diversification, lower our high unemployment and expand the County’s tax base.
I support the use of tax abatements and jobs grants to attract new businesses and to encourage expansion of existing businesses in our Community. The Chamber has assisted existing and new companies with multiple Local Jobs Grant awards that are currently creating, or will create, an estimated 300+ jobs over the next several years.