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Martin County Commissioner District 4

The County Commission is comprised of five members, elected to a four-year term by voters. Exercising their legislative powers, the County Commission adopts ordinances (local laws) and resolutions to establish policies and programs to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of Martin County residents. Chapter 125.01 of the Florida Statutes establishes the specific duties and powers of the Board of County Commissioners.

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    John Dial
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Sarah Heard
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    John Kazanjian
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What in your personal and professional experience makes you the best candidate for this position?

With respect to home rule, is the balance of power between state and county governments appropriately addressing local issues? How do you plan to defend Martin County citizens when the state imposes an agenda or economic development that contradicts local interests?

Reducing or eliminating property taxes is being considered by the governor and the legislature. What services would have to be cut or how would you make up for revenue losses if this goes through? How should the county respond if changes are made?

What programs or initiatives do you propose for addressing the growing needs of the unhoused population in Martin County?

What actions would you take in protecting the ecosystem which includes the Indian River, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Everglades?

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Professional Experience 23 years as district 4 county commissioner
Education BA from Texas A and M
Mailing Address P O Box 26
Pt. Salerno, FL 34992
Campaign Phone 772-285-3444
Website http://sarahheard.com
23 years of navigating local, state and federal governments, with emphasis on slow growth, clean water and keeping our taxes low.
No, the state is becoming more aggressive at pre-empting local rule, centralizing governance in Tallahassee. I will continue to fight to maintain our home rule, protecting the Martin. Ounty difference.
Martin County is extremely dependent on residential ad valorem, especially homesteaded ad valorem. Our current ad valorem collections are $360 million per year. 65% of that goes to public safety, the sheriff and fire rescue. Following a successful referendum, we would lose $42 million the first year, $75 million the second year and $170 million the third year. So, in the third year, while funding nothing else, we would have a $44 million deficit for funding public safety. Fees could replace some of the ad valorem but certainly not to today’s standards.
We have robust state and federal programs in our social services department. We partner with Habitat for Humanity to build homes. We are always evaluating land trusts.
I led the county’s program for federal authorization of our portion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, which is called the Indian River Lagoon South Plan, or IRL South. IRL South was authorized by Congress in 2007. From 2007 to present I have worked tirelessly to assure state and federal funding for IRL South. In the past 15 years, over$1.5 billion in state and federal funds have flowed into Martin County to buy and construct the worthy components of IRL South. The remaining components are forthcoming.
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