Seven candidates vying for a seat on the Islamorada Village Council stuck to the issues facing the community, while staying away from any personal attacks and mud slinging, during an Oct. 1 forum inside the Founders Park Community Center.
Organized by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, the forum was moderated by Joe Roth. The evening began with each candidate providing a brief introduction about themselves and their priorities to a packed gallery of residents.
Mayor Buddy Pinder started the evening’s forum. A sixth-generation resident who ran an underground utility business, Pinder was elected to the council in 2020 and re-elected in 2022. Pinder, who’s vying for Seat 1, said he knows the people, the land and the environment. His short-term goals include progressing the comprehensive plan and workforce housing, formulating a strategic plan to purchase sensitive land and forming partnerships with other governments to address nearshore water quality issues.
“I got a lot of experience working with different agencies just recently in the last four years,” he said. “Islamorada, I feel I’m the best person for the job.”
Seat 1 challenger Van Cadenhead has been a village resident since 1956. He’s no stranger to the council having frequently attended village council meetings. He said the election is pivotal for Islamorada. Since incorporation, he said the village has turned into an “exclusive, elitist enclave.” He said a lot of building and development questions have been answered on behalf of the building and developers.
“I’m hoping the residents can get a foothold back and start driving the bus again as we should have been all along,” he said. We have probably 20-25% of Islamorada left to save that’s not built out to the property lines. If you elect me, I’ll promise to run with whoever’s up here to stop (it).”
A candidate for Seat 2, Anna Richards grew up in Islamorada. She has four children who were born and raised and started their own businesses in the Keys. Richards said her big priorities include conservation, reaching goals with sustainability and achievability and being realistic.
“We have certain things that really need to be addressed and we need to work hard to get to those goals,” Richards said in her opening.
Capt. Steve Friedman is also vying for Seat 2. He wasn’t in attendance for the forum due to a prior commitment, but he gave Roth a statement to read. Long before he knew he’d seek a council seat, he said he booked a four-day fish tournament in the Lower Keys.
“I trust the small business owners amongst the chamber’s membership will appreciate and understand the commitment to our customers,” Friedman’s statement read. “As a fishing guide, our business works everyday with other small business owners, gas stations, bait shops, grocers, hotels, marinas and restaurants that all depend on the health of our local waters. We believe our water is Islamorada’s economy and we will make protecting it the priority.”
Deb Gillis, who’s seeking Seat 3, previously served on the village council for nine years. A small business owner, Gillis said she knows what it takes to survive in the Keys. She said she cares deeply about Islamorada and is committed to making a positive difference in this town.
“My top priority would be addressing our affordable housing issues. We have a problem going on there,” Gillis said, adding she would like to streamline the government process to reduce expenses, complete the comprehensive plan and land development regulations. “I believe these are essential to preserving our community and small town way of life.”
Mary Barley is also seeking Seat 3 on the council. A resident of 30 years, Barley said she’s always been committed to Florida. She said her work in the Everglades proves her commitment to this community.
“That’s how we got started when Florida Bay turned into pea soup and we said we need to do something,” Barley said. “I’m more committed because my husband died in an airplane crash trying to save this place, and I’m going to make sure that what we died for we’re all going to help him find.”
Don Horton was the first to throw his name in the hat for a council seat. Horton, who’s vying for Seat 4, is a full-time resident of 47 years. A business owner and former village building official, Horton said his priorities include the budget, traffic, workforce housing, the Fills and citizen participation.
“I don’t believe that a small town needs big government if it saves on taxes while not lessening a service,” Horton said. “My goals would be to adopt a new comprehensive plan, find innovative ways to lessen the traffic burden, develop workforce housing initiatives and help businesses flourish.”
Seat 4 candidate Tom Raffanello is a resident of 15 years and a former DEA special agent for 35 years. He said the last 20 years he was an executive manager, running operations in Arizona and Florida. He was also chief of worldwide operations with a budget totalling a quarter billion dollars. He said he wants to do the job because he’s a public servant.
“This is what I want to do,” Raffanello said as he pointed to the village’s mission statement. “I’m not going to list the problems. We know what the problems are but this is what we should use as our guiding force for it.”
Before the candidates delved into the issues, Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney shared a few remarks on the duties and responsibilities of a council member. Mahoney, who went unopposed and will return for another two-year term, reminded the candidates of the responsibilities and commitment that comes with the job.
“It’s a full-time job. It takes me 40-45 hours a week,” she said. “We have an opportunity to make great change in this community, everything from transportation, wastewater, climate change and our beautiful coral reefs that are going away.”
Candidates were asked questions on workforce housing and transportation, village land acquisitions, wastewater, the environment and the budget, to name a few. The Keys Weekly’s coverage of the forum will continue in the following papers leading up to the election with candidate responses to the questions.
