SEBASTIAN — Five candidates vying for two seats on Sebastian’s City Council gathered at Capt’n Butcher’s for a forum Wednesday afternoon, organized by the Taxpayers’ Association of Indian River County.
Two incumbents, Jerome Adams and Jim Hill, are running for re-election; other candidates include Albert Iovino, Damien Gilliams, and Ed Herlihy
President of the Taxpayers’ Association John Kistler moderated the debate and posed a total of seven questions to which each candidate was given two minutes to reply.
Themes of the questions ranged from the tax millage rate to community development to All Aboard Florida to strategies for improving the lagoon.
One question asked candidates to assign the current City Council a letter grade, A-F, and point to one thing the City Council could do to improve that grade.
Councilman Adams gave the council an “A-minus,” pointing to the success of passing a fertilizer ordinance but suggesting the need to begin tackling a switch from septic to sewer in order to improve the quality of the lagoon.
Councilman Hill also gave the current council an “A” because of the members’ ability to work well together to keep Sebastian a beautiful place to live.
Hill said he would like to see City Council reach the completion of the Working Waterfront project on Indian River Drive.
“I think it’s going to be a gem,” Hill said. “Quite frankly, I think it already is.”
Much discussion revolved around the Working Waterfront project and community development as a whole.
Candidate Iovino spoke frequently about his support for small local business owners and the development of the Working Waterfront project. He also noted his dedication to keeping Sebastian true to the “small fishing town” atmosphere its residents take so much pride in.
On the contrary, Gilliams took a stand against the waterfront project saying, “The Working Waterfront has bothered me from day one.” He went on to explain his opinion that the industry that attracts tourists and brings in money for local businesses is the game fishing industry.
Gilliams also listed several qualms he has with laws and rules that apply to some business owners, both included and excluded in the Working Waterfront project, that do not apply to others business owners.
Herlihy hinged much of his discussion around his experience as a member of the City of Sebastian Budget Review Committee. Also a supporter of the Working Waterfront, Herlihy delivered the message that he wants the City Council to finally take action in areas he feels have been “all talk” in the past.
Included in Herlihy’s action plan is the intent to move forward on switching Sebastian from septic to sewer in an attempt to stop pollution in the lagoon. Though costly, Herlihy said it is time to begin looking for federal and state assistance to make the necessary switch.
When the topic of All Aboard Florida was discussed, all candidates agreed that the best way to combat All Aboard Florida was to continue seeking ways to block loans funded by the public and push for the tracks to be stopped completely or moved west.
Gilliams was the only candidate who suggested he would be in favor of All Aboard Florida only if a train stop was considered for Sebastian, and only if the citizens of Sebastian asked him to vote in favor of it.
During a discussion about budget and fiscal responsibility, it was asked of the incumbents to explain why they each voted against setting the tax millage rate at the highest of three possible options, even though the tax rate was recommended by the City’s budget committee and supported by the other three council members.
Both Adams and Hill spoke firmly against burdening residents with what they said were unnecessary tax hikes when they believe Council could seek other means of funding the items that the tax would cover.
Hill also referenced the City’s $5.1 million in reserves during the tax conversation, calling it a “slush fund” and a “just in case fund.” With $5.1 million in reserves, Hill argued, he could not justify voting for the tax increase.
Herlihy countered that it was not a slush fund, but an “insurance policy” and not appropriate to use toward the goals the higher taxes could accomplish.
The tax increase was aimed at funding lagoon projects, saving for unforeseeable All Aboard Florida expenses, and resurfacing roads.
Adams and Herlihy have each lived in Sebastian for nine years, Iovino has been a Sebastian resident for 12 years, and Hill has resided in the city for more than 25 years, and Gilliams more than 28.
Elections will be held in November.