KEY ISSUES:
Knowledge of issues
related to growth,
including development
and the environment,
budget constraints,
accountability to the
public, leadership
qualities
WHY WE ENDORSED:
The race for the
District 1 seat being
vacated by Joe Smith is
the most competitive —
Democratic and
Republican — of any of
the campaigns for county
commissioner.
On the Democratic side
are Bruhn, a former
two-term county
commissioner;
Culverhouse, a member of
one of the founding
families of St. Lucie
County with vast
experience at local,
state and national
levels; Dzadovsky, a
former candidate for
Fort Pierce mayor;
Gaskin, a native of
District 1 with an
understanding of its
residents, especially in
northwest Fort Pierce;
and Philpart, a minister
and community leader who
has personally and
professionally helped to
make his community
better.
An attorney, Culverhouse
easily has the most
impressive resume among
these candidates for the
District 1 seat. A
former legislative aide
in Tallahassee and
Washington, D.C., and a
former candidate himself
for Congress, he has
more recently served as
chairman of the Fort
Pierce Historic
Preservation Board and
as a member of the
county Planning and
Zoning Commission.
Dzadovsky doesn't have
Culverhouse's
experience, at least not
yet. But, he makes up
for it with more recent
proven leadership,
organizational ability,
and a skill for working
with others, building
consensuses and getting
action.
Volunteering with
numerous community
organIzations such as
the Fort Pierce Jazz and
Blues Society (serving
as interim president),
Exchange Club, Project
Intact and the
Neighborhood Enhancement
Action Team, he has
demonstrated a passion
and an ability to work
well with young and old,
black and white, across
all walks of life.
As a member of the Fort
Pierce Code Enforcement
Board and the Citizens
Budget Committee, he has
become intimately
familiar with government
functions and spending.
Through personality and
in-depth knowledge of
issues facing the
county, through meetings
and research, he has
become the kind of
leader who would serve
the citizens of St.
Lucie very well.
WHY WE DIDN'T
ENDORSE: Bruhn
served the county well
as a commissioner, but
new visions for the
future are needed.
Philpart is a major
asset to his community
and to the county as a
whole. He needs a
greater understanding,
however, of countywide
issues. Gaskin did not
attend a scheduled
meeting with the
editorial board.
WE RECOMMEND
CHRIS DZADOVSKY
Dzadovsky
says:
"I love this county and
seeing the difficulties
regular people are
having makes me want to
work for them and make a
positive difference in
their lives. I also want
to fight to maintain our
quality of life with
greater employment
opportunities, less
taxes, better land
planning that will not
adversely affect current
taxpayers or cost them
more money, and maintain
the preservation of
conservation lands."
