Education
Pepperdine University, MBA University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Business Administration
Experience
3 years on Gulf Stream ARPB, 2 Years on Gulf Stream Town Commission
Campaign Phone
7144865196
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Education
The Hotchkiss School; University of Pennsylvania, BA, Cum Laude; Columbia Business School, MBA, Dean Honors
Experience
Blackstone (Private Equity, 2009-2013), The White House (Economics, 2013), Marakon (Strategy Consulting, 2015-2018), Comvest Partners (Private Equity & Private Credit, 2019-2022), Mariner (Wealth Advisory, 2022-present)
Lack of timely communication and transparency in town governance and a reactive vs. proactive approach to governance. This will be Gulf Stream's first election since 2017 representing the first time the people of Gulf Stream in a decade will have an opportunity to provide direction around town leadership. I want to instill a proactive governance approach where communication and dissemination of information acts as a key ingredient for quality of life and promotes neighborhood and community connectivity across Gulf Stream's different neighborhoods.
Gulf Stream's community and people are its greatest asset. I want to protect and preserve what makes Gulf Stream and its community special. It is my belief, however, that we cannot do that only by looking to our past. If given the opportunity, I will honor Gulf Stream’s unique and storied history, while also planning for Gulf Stream’s future amid a rapidly changing South Florida landscape.
Property tax relief outside of the most extreme measure to eliminate all property taxes (which would significantly impact Gulf Stream's budget), should be absorbed in the town budget without raising taxes. I am against the elimination of property taxes on homesteaded properties that would decimate local budgets.
We should safeguard Gulf Stream’s financial future through disciplined fiscal management and responsible millage rates. To the extent the budget continued to run surplus' with adequate, we should lower the millage rate to provide tax relief to residents.
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Education
BA (Economics) The College of the Holy Cross; MBA (Management) Harvard Business School
Experience
40 Years of experience in investment management; Board Directorships; College Trustee; Chairman, Investment Committe
Endorsements
Current Commissioners of the Town of Gulf Stream
Campaign Phone
5617578881
The Town's biggest threat is unchecked development that would undermine Gulf Stream's unique character. Generations have sought to preserve the quiet, low-profile nature of the community which should be closely guarded.
The best way to ensure the community maintains this unique character is to develop Town staff, Architectural Review & Planning Board (ARPB) members and Commissioners who have invested the time to appreciate the culture and manage the standards set out in the Town Code.
The Town's greatest strength is its sense of community and the continuity of leadership that it has maintained over the last several decades. The stability in leadership has allowed the Town to plan for and execute multiple large infrastructure projects with strong fiscal responsibility to pay for these bold initiatives which have greatly improved both the visual beauty of Gulf Stream but also improved infrastructure that was well past its useful life. These bold decisions are more easily made when energy is focused on goals and results.
Maintaining a continued strong sense of partnership with Town staff, the ARPB and amongst Commissioners is the best way to stay focused on the community's needs and services.
I am not in favor of eliminating property taxes. I am always open to ideas that reduce taxes as long as the Town's obligations to its residents can be met to appropriate standards.
Significantly reducing property tax income will have the long-term effect of hampering the Town's ability to plan for and fund large capital projects, which in an era of climate change are more likely to be required than not. It would also likely limit the ability to invest in technology that will make our Town safer and may affect the quality of talent we can attract to the Town.
Gulf Stream has historically been very fiscally prudent and has planned for and funded large capital projects without materially affecting tax rates. I do not see any waste in the Town budget, but I am always curious how technology can be used to increase efficiency.
Gulf Stream has an exceptional police department. They have managed this issue, and overall public safety at a very high level.
Education
Penn State University (BA); Dickinson School of Law (JD)
Experience
Litigation Attorney in early career; later founded and still president of Humidifirst Co., a manufacturer of precision humidifier equipment
Campaign Phone
5617521936
The proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties will significantly reduce Gulf Stream's tax revenue, resulting in the elimination of most public services. It will also impair our Home Rule local decision making because the source of much of the town's budget funding will then have to be made up by the state or county governments. I am working with other local officials, state representatives and the Florida League of Cities to lobby against the passage of a joint resolution placing this change on the November ballot.
Gulf Stream is a unique town without commercial activity. The town is known for its homes' understated elegance, historic golf club, friendly neighborhoods, and the beautiful length of Australian Pines along its ocean-fronting A1A roadway.
The loss of revenue from non-school homesteaded property taxes would be disastrous to our small town. Police and Fire/Rescue represent over half of the town's budget so if all non-school homesteaded revenue is eliminated, the town could not fully provide even those essential services, not to mention any other municipal service. Even a watered down version of the amendment, applying only to residents over age 65, would still reduce our revenues by a third, significantly impairing the town's ability to provide needed services without turning to the county or state for make-up funding and undermining our Home Rule governance. The legislature must be persuaded to reject the proposed joint resolutions.
Our town is exceptionally well run. We have one of the lowest overall tax rates in Florida and still manage to increase our reserves every year while budgeting for infrastructure projects.
This issue has not been a problem for our town.
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Candidate has not yet responded.
Education
Princeton University, B.A.; Florida State University, J.D.
Experience
Over 13 years on the Gulf Stream Town Commission
Continuing to implement the Town's capital plan to replace aging infrastructure.
The Town's greatest strength is its employees. We are continuing to look for more ways to support them.
The loss of all homestead property tax revenue would reduce Gulf Stream's property tax receipts by a 56 percent. Since more than half of the annual budget is devoted to essential law enforcement and fire-rescue services (53 percent), the Town would, for all
practical purposes, be unable to continue operating without either imposing an inequitably high tax on our non-homestead properties and reducing some services or seeking state and county
assistance. These proposals require more study.
The Town's financial position remains excellent. Our Commission has continued to strengthen reserves and maintain one of the lowest overall tax rates in Florida, while still expanding the police force and budgeting responsibly.
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