We’re almost to September and, as the week began, only one person – perennial candidate and longtime political gadfly Brian Heady – had filed to run for the two seats up for grabs on the Vero Beach City Council.
Another potential contender, local attorney Joe Graves, picked up a candidate’s packet from City Hall last week but, as of Monday, hadn’t yet filed the necessary paperwork.
The entry deadline, however, is Sept. 6, which means there’s still plenty of time for Graves and others to jump into the race. But will they? Is anyone else planning to run?
If so, these yet-to-file candidates have successfully kept secret their intentions, because the off-year election is just two months away and nobody is saying anything.
The only folks who’ve been talking about running, in fact, are the two incumbents who say they won’t run again – Mayor Val Zudans and two-term Councilman Harry Howle.
Actually, Zudans has said he will file for re-election only if he’s convinced his presence on the council for another two years is needed to accomplish a specific and compelling task, such as plotting the future of Centennial Place.
Otherwise, Zudans has said he’d rather not seek another term – a public declaration that could seriously dent any re-election bid if he changes his mind. “I don’t really want the job, but I’ll do it if I have to” isn’t exactly an inspiring campaign slogan.
Of course, if nobody else files, he might not need one.
Which begs the question: Why haven’t more Vero Beach residents expressed interest in running for City Council?
Or should we be asking: Why would anyone want to?
Why would anyone put themselves through the grind of a political campaign for a two-year term that demands a significant investment of time and energy to serve on an often-divided council subject to annual power shifts that make it difficult to accomplish anything meaningful, all for an annual salary of $10,000?
Why would anyone want to endure the council’s marathon meetings that move at the speed of erosion and, more times than not, result in action being postponed?
Why would anyone want to expose themselves to the public criticism and derision that too often accompany the council’s votes?
Remember: There’s a constant tug-o-war in this community between those who want to Keep Vero Vero and those who want to make Vero better.
“My experience has been that, if you want to fix anything in government and make it better, everyone fearful of change will vigorously oppose you, question your motives, create false rumors and often attack you personally,” Zudans said.
“I’m surprised we get any good candidates,” he added. “I have asked several people with great life experiences and success in running businesses if they would consider running. They laugh at the question because they know it is a thankless job that is paid in ridicule and $800 per month for a serious commitment of time.”
Howle echoed Zudans’ sentiments, saying the political gridlock caused by staggered, two-year terms and annual elections dissuade many would-be City Council candidates from running.
“If you’re a first-time council member, you spend the first six months figuring out how it all works, then have a year to do the job before you have to start campaigning again,” Howle said. “That first term, you’re really effective for only a year.
“Then, there are dynamic changes because you have an election every year and power can shift,” he added. “So there’s no continuity, no momentum, and the direction of the council can change completely. It’s so hard to get a consensus on anything. You have to run twice and win to get anything done.”
A referendum to extend City Council terms to three years – after an initial pitch to go to four years – was defeated by voters in 2017.
People opposed to extending the terms point to unqualified and wrongheaded candidates that have been elected here in the past, saying four years is too long to suffer the consequences of bad decisions.
Proponents of going to four-year terms say many of those who want to stay with two-year terms belong to the Keep Vero Vero crowd, which knows shorter terms make it more difficult to effect change.
Both arguments have merit, and so does this: Councilwoman Laura Moss, a former New York executive who described her stint as Vero Beach’s mayor as the “best job of my life,” said she believes longer terms and higher pay would attract more candidates, including younger ones.
“You’re not going to get them for $10,000,” Moss said. “If you’re in your peak earning years, there’s no way we can expect you to devote all the hours necessary for that kind of money. That’s why we tend to get older people who are retired.”
Howle said his council pay would “average out to less than minimum wage” if he were paid by the hour.
“It’s difficult when you’re trying to earn a living, have a personal life and be a council member,” Howle said. “It also makes it hard to find good candidates.”
Or any candidates.
“There are people running,” Moss said, “but they’re running the other way.”