There’s a ballot brimming with numerous candidates and proposed state constitutional amendments, so one local race might be easy to overlook.
Quietly, challenger Viorel “Mr. Vio” Mocuta and incumbent Wayne N. Smith are vying for the St. Lucie West Services District Seat 2.
Two other St. Lucie West Services District Board of Supervisors seats are up for election this year: Seat 1 and Seat 3. Neither Seat 1 incumbent Gregg Ney nor Seat 3 incumbent Vincent J. D’Amico got challengers, so they’re running unopposed. The board has five seats. The other two will be up for elections in 2020.
The district is a community development district established in 1990. A community development district is a hybrid semi-governmental body created under Florida law to perform some municipal functions in St. Lucie West.
Specifically, the St. Lucie West Services District was established to handle water treatment and distribution, and manage stormwater in St. Lucie West. Perhaps its most visible project recently is the nearly 13-acre Lake Harvey Stormwater Storage Project, which was dedicated in February. The district is now working with the City of Port St. Lucie to add passive-use park amenities at Lake Harvey along with adding sound mitigation after Kings Isle residents complained that cutting down vegetation for the project greatly increased ambient traffic noise.
In August the district’s board of supervisors approved a $17.4 million budget for this fiscal year. Most of that is funded by water and sewer payments. The largest portion of that is for operating expenses, about $8.6 million. Another $3.8 million is going to capital projects, such as construction of a new, permanent office at 450 SW Utility Drive. The district has budgeted about $1.2 million for that project. The remainder of the budget is debt service, most of which is paid for by special assessments owners see on their property tax bills.
Likely the next large project for the district will be adding stormwater management ponds at St. Lucie Trail Golf Club that will benefit Southwest Cashmere Boulevard and surrounding areas. The board of supervisors recently approved a plan to buy about nine acres there for $166,650. CGI St. Lucie, owner of St. Lucie Trail, is giving the district almost another 4.5 acres for storm-water management in the deal.
The district has been able to keep water and sewer rates the same since 2010. Smith joined the board in 2016. He replaced Harvey Cutler, who died in late 2015 while serving in office. Lake Harvey is named after him, a decision made before he died. Smith was one of seven who applied to be appointed to fill Cutler’s seat.
St. Lucie Voice reached out to both candidates for the office. Mocuta did not respond before press time. Smith said the biggest challenge for whomever the voters choose will be ensuring that the district’s new office will meet expectations. “Right now, I think the biggest thing is we’ve got to provide guidance as we begin our new headquarters and emergency facilities,” he said.
In addition to being a permanent office, the new building will serve as the district’s emergency command center during hurricanes and other events.
All eligible voters living in St. Lucie West will be able to cast ballots for this race. Board of Supervisors members are paid $200 a meeting, not to exceed $4,800 in a calendar year. The board regularly meets for a workshop and for a meeting monthly. The members are elected to four-year terms.
Voter information is available at www.slcelections.com.
