ELECTION 2014: Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Board
—- On Estero Island, there are two races on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, pitting four candidates vying for two seats on the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Board of Fire Commissioners. Current Board Chairman David Brower will face former FMB Councilman Bob Raymond in the first seat, and Commissioner Ted Schindler looks to re-seek office against candidate Edward Milde, Jr. in the fifth seat.
Meet the candidates: Seat 1
– David Brower – I am running for re-election to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Commission. I have been a member of the Commission for almost four years, for three of those years I have been chairperson. Prior to my taking office the Commission adopted a budget of almost eight million dollars and a millage rate of 2.58. For every year I have been in office we have reduced the budget and even more remarkable in the face of declining property values, the millage rate. For the 2013/2014 fiscal year our budget was 7.4 million dollars with a millage rate of 2.51. I am a true fiscal conservative who is committed to maintaining public safety. Anyone can cut a budget if they wish to compromise public safety. Our reduced budgets have not, while other districts have laid off personnel and are subsisting on Federal grants, we hired additional fire fighters and paramedics. To save money it was opined that we cut firefighters and adopt other questionable methods of reducing emergency readiness, I have and will steadfastly oppose these “solutions” and demand that our District cost effectively maintain fire readiness to N.F.P.A. standards and ambulance service that rivals anyone’s. Many people who call themselves fiscal conservatives just pay lip service to the concept by calling for illusory spending cuts. Those cuts are generally in items that make up a minuscule part of the budget, items that have no real effect on the budget, zero effect on your tax bill and could compromise the District.
I am not afraid of making the hard choices, choices that many times are unpopular with organized labor, management and even my fellow commissioners. My choices are governed by what is best for the people I serve, the Taxpayers; real savings without harming public safety.
My wife and I moved to Florida from southern California in 2005. I was admitted to the California Bar in 1988. I concentrated in real estate broker representation and creditor bankruptcy representation especially credit card fraud and real estate lending. Prior to practicing law I successfully owned and operated three separate small businesses, two in retail sales and one in financial services. I bring a unique combination of legal and practical business experience to the Board. If you want to continue on the road to lower taxes without comprising public safety I would appreciate your vote.
I can be contacted at browerd@comcast.net .
– Bob Raymond – I have been married to my wife Donna for over 38 years. I have 1 son, 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren and 1 grand-dog. I have lived on Fort Myers Beach fulltime for over 10 years. We moved to the beach after I retired. I have been in sales for over 40 years, first for Gibson Greeting Cards then Real Estate. For Gibson, I was a District Sales Manager and the Regional Training Manager; in Real-estate I owned my own Century 21 for 5 years and was a Managing Broker for one of the largest Real Estate companies in New Hampshire before retiring. In Fort Myers Beach, I was on the Council for 6 years (Mayor for part); 2-1/2 years on the LPA; and 5 years on Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (chairman for 1 year). In New Hampshire, before moving to Florida, I was on the Police Commission, Planning and Zoning Board, School Board and Chairman of the Auburn Commercial, Industrial Authority for 10 years.
Reason for running: I believe the Department needs new Leadership that is not as close to the Administration, makes the Taxpayers and Residents first while making sure that safety is not compromised. A very important thing is to come to an agreement with the District and the Fireman Union on the expired contract. This has been swept under the rug by the Administration and the Leader of our Commission. Our Chairman must make this happen sooner rather than later before we lose more members and have huge tax increases. We also should do an analysis of the overall needs of services and on our Department on how we spend our tax dollars. We must look at The District real estate owned, how we plan for new equipment, administrative structure and the roles and responsibilities the administration has as well as a review of all the policy and procedures.
These are just some of my reasons for running.
I always put the Residents, Taxpayers first no matter who supports me.
I ask for your vote, so I can serve everyone in the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.
A proven Leader and Fiscal Conservative.
Meet the candidates: Seat 5
– Ted Schindler – Brief Bio/Background: FMB property tax paying resident since 2000; Certified Financial Planner; Graduate of the College for Financial Planning; Bachelors in Mathematics from San Diego State University; Retired USAF Command Pilot and Lt Colonel; Vietnam and Desert Shield veteran; Military Decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Humanitarian Service Awards and Combat Aircrew Badge; Graduate of Air Command and Staff College; Former Board member for major federal credit union; Former Financial Consultant to a major California County Employees Union; Small business owner for over 30 years; USCG licensed Captain; Member, US Power Squadron San Carlos Bay (Ft. Myers Beach); Chairman, Annual FMB Christmas boat parade; Member, Military Officers Association of America; and Member, FMB American Legion.
Unbiased: I have no allegiance to any other Commissioner or union. I have no family member or friends on staff. In other words, a clean slate and no favors or obligations to pay back.
Family: Wife, Pam; children, Ted III – FGCU grad and Mallory – a UF grad.
Challenges: Biggest challenge for today’s Fire District Commissioner is being fiscally responsible. We need to provide the best level of emergency response possible, but we must be careful with our spending. The days of ever-increasing property tax revenue are gone and so should the relative “free-spending” of the past. In the Air Force I was in charge of multi-million dollar budgets and had negotiation experience with unions. As a board member for a major San Francisco Bay Area credit union, I was part of the budget process as well. With over 30 years as a financial planner I have had extensive experience working out budgets and financial plans. I have also negotiated with civil service unions, similar to those of the Fire District. In last four years, I have spear-headed paycuts for our district -a very unpopular thing to do, but absolutely necessary. FMB Fire District would have been bankrupt by now, if we had not made these cuts. Unlike other districts, we did all in-house with no layoffs or cuts in service. How can I help as an incumbent? Simply keep applying some common sense and restraint, tempered with my previous experience as a FMB Fire District Commissioner.
Idea or suggestion on how to improve the FMB Fire District? Please let me know with an email to trstwo@comcast.net . Any idea -no matter how small or controversial- will be sincerely appreciated.
– Edward A. Milde Jr. – Originally from Western Massachusetts, I served 8 years in the Army and came to Southwest Florida in 1990. I have owned or partnered in several businesses, in Lee and Collier, and have the experience to make a budget responsible and attainable. I have used my experience and ability to survey the public, coordinate solutions and facilitate planning for the future in many diverse opportunities from being a co-president for Cape Odyssey, an extensive visioning project for Cape Coral in the early 1990s to currently being the Assistant Team Leader for the local Fort Myers Beach CERT program. There have been many chances for me to be involved in our community over the 8 years that I have lived here -mostly through the CERT program (falls under the FMB Fire District) by being involved in almost all the events that occur on the Beach, by providing training and education for Beach residents about Disasters and Emergencies and organizing fundraisers for our supplies and equipment. I work, live and donate locally and will diligently continue to look out for the well-being and safety of our Community. I will do this by being able to attend all the meetings and workshops, effectively presenting inquiries and solutions, being knowledgeable and current on discussion items and working to eliminate unproductive time.
You are paying for the seat, I will earn the right to sit in it. Thank you and God Bless.