In an effort to provide greater familiarity and communication between the nine Marathon City Council candidates and our readers, the Marathon Weekly is proud to continue our candidate Q&A series leading up to the Marathon City Council election on Nov. 8, when four of the candidates will win seats on the council. Per the referendum passed in August’s primary election, the candidate with the fewest votes who still wins a seat will serve a shorter two-year term, set to expire at the same time as councilman Luis Gonzalez’s. The other three winners will serve three-year terms. For a full recording of a candidate forum on Oct. 4 co-hosted by Keys Weekly and the Marathon Chamber of Commerce and including candidates for U.S. Congress and State Representative, click here.
For this final week, we kept it simple: Why should Marathon vote for you?
INGRID TYREE
I would like to be crystal clear why I am running.
- To get this city back on track and assist our work force and small businesses to keep them here.
- Order a forensic audit. This will show what exactly has transpired with all the issues we face now. This will also indicate if these issues happened in ignorance or was intentional. We as a city already have a stack of lawsuits to deal with and I don’t believe it’s going to stop anytime soon. There have been egregious mistakes on the part of the City.
- I’m running to bridge the gap between our citizens and government. Using translators and personal town hall meetings before a council meeting.
To be a councilman is to be a servant for the people. I intend to work for the people first. Lastly, my last meet and greet will be November 5th on 62nd St. I can’t wait to work for you! Time to work together and get everything straightened out for our future. Please vote, it’s the only way change happens.
JEFF SMITH
My love for our community and the place I call home is why I chose to run for City Council. I have served our community in various capacities over my 45 years of residency and graduated from both San Pablo School and Marathon High School. I received a BA in Economics from Tulane University in addition to attending the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.
I am a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class IV and a mentor for Take Stock in Children. I served as President of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys and Florida Keys Land & Sea Trust. I volunteered my time to serve on many workforce housing committees for both the City of Marathon and Monroe County including Chairing the Monroe County Affordable Housing Committee and Community Advisory Task Force. I served as the Chairman of the City of Marathon Planning Commission.
Marathon has pressing issues to address in the next few years and experienced leadership is required to manage the impacts on our community. My experience with affordable housing groups coupled with my service as Chairman of the Marathon Planning Commission gives me significant insights into the housing issues facing our community and opportunities to implement policies which address the problem. I have the education, experience and history with our community to help address pressing concerns associated with growth, risk management, finance and strategic planning.
City Council needs qualified persons with the experience and knowledge requisite to identify the problems and propose solutions while working in a collaborative body to implement changes. I have the legacy knowledge of the how, why and when policies were adopted within the City and where unintended consequences of prior directives need to be addressed. I can engage community members with diverse expertise to assist in gathering input and formulating action plans to guide the community through upcoming forced changes such as expiration of BPAS and legal decisions. Qualified, experienced people with demonstrated skills and dedication to serving our community are what I believe is required in this election.
KENNY MATLOCK
I was born and raised here in Marathon. My family moved to the FL Keys 175 years ago, specifically in Marathon for about 75 years. I have managed a successful local business for 15 years. I am a graduate of Island Christian School. My wife, who also grew up here, is a graduate of Marathon High School and we are raising our little girl here. I hope she will want to live here when she grows up, but we need to make some changes for that to happen. Far too many locals are choosing to move due to the fact that our city caters more to developers and big money, rather than to our hard-working families who are the heart of Marathon. I feel this city has made some bad decisions in the past. Moving forward will require council members without an agenda for personal gains and the tenacity to fight for what is right and fair and make the city work for everyone, regardless of who they know or how much money they “donate”. Our city leaders need to spend our tax dollars as if they had to earn it themselves. The city needs to be transparent and accessible. We need leaders who will hold themselves and staff accountable when need be. We need to change our direction before we lose more of our small town feel that makes Marathon so special. I am a local, I am a fighter, and I am here to make Marathon better for locals. I hope to earn your vote on November 8th.
WAYNE QUARBERG
My focus will be on addressing the concerns that our residents have today. I’m here for all of our residents.
Communication between Marathon residents and our city government needs improvement. Residents must be updated on not only what the city is planning to do, but given regular updates concerning ongoing issues and projects. Transparency in government should always be our policy.
Having lived in Marathon for over 43 years and raising a family here, I have seen all of the positive changes that have happened. I want to make sure that is not undone by bringing back the OLD way of doing things, as we continue to move forward.
My experience with community service work in Marathon (Cub/Boy Scouts, coral reef and marine resource management, etc.). Has shown me that we need to support local community service groups to succeed as a city.
I have run a successful business here in Marathon for many years. Small businesses need someone looking out for them on the council. We must give our local businesses the opportunity to survive and prosper by using whatever tools we have in our local government. Without these businesses we lose our community to special interest outsiders that couldn’t care less about our hometown.
From engineering on the Long Key bridge, to the aqueduct, to running a business, I have developed leadership skills by building consensus. I will apply these skills when serving on our city council. Having open discussions in public, with the public, is what the City Council should be doing.
Marathon residents should have the opportunity to be involved with our government. Being available to the residents of Marathon will be a priority. You can call, text, email, carrier pigeon me, whatever works. I will be there to help with your concerns.
My name is Wayne Quarberg and I am running for Marathon City Council and I would appreciate your vote on November 8th.
LYNN LANDRY
I am a 32-year resident of Marathon. I’ve been married 33 years to my beautiful wife Freida. We raised two children here Kaite and Seth, both who have chosen to make their homes in Marathon. I have been actively involved in this community since moving here. I’ve been involved in the construction industry for the last 30 years. I have owned and ran several successful businesses in Marathon. For the last nine years I have sat on the Marathon planning commission and have chaired it for the last three. This has been very valuable experience to help me better understand how city and state government work.
The city should run as a service for its residence. There needs to be a more open-door policy. The city should strive to provide the best services that they already offer, while looking for more efficient ways to do this.
Vacation rentals bring a lot of money into our community, but they should not impact the quality of life for our residents. There needs to be better enforcement of our vacation rental ordinances. Using the vacation rental licensing fees, we can allocate resources to better staff our code department. Bring our unlicensed vacation rentals into compliance and making sure our current licensed rentals are complying. We need a council that has the will to bring change to our city and set policy and hold staff accountable to make sure our ordinances are enforced.
Building and preserving affordable housing is critical in our community. I will fight to bring back the 300 units and exhaust every avenue to bring them back to the city. We need to think outside the box to come up with creative ways to build and preserve affordable housing in our community. This includes looking at public/private ventures to possibly build more housing.
I will use my experience to serve you, the residents of Marathon. I am ready to serve as one of your city council members. Please vote Lynn Landry November 8th.
KEVIN MACAULAY
As a 36-year-old live aboard sail boater, professional research scientist, and most recently manager of Key by the Sea – one of the last bastions of affordable housing in Marathon – I will bring a fresh and underrepresented voice to the city table. Marathon deserves dependable, transparent, and intelligent, leadership that understands the issues we are facing and is ready to stand up and fight for the rights and needs of the people who call Marathon home. Finding a balance is crucial, and ensuring we maintain a thriving economy as well as securing a high quality of life at an affordable cost for our residents is vital to the future of Marathon.
I bring a unique skill set and an unmatched passion, as well as leadership experience, proven problem-solving abilities, and coalition building expertise that will be critical in moving Marathon forward for all of us.
I moved to Marathon 13 years ago with a job at FWC as a marine biologist, helping to protect and preserve the world’s third largest barrier coral reef, locally known as our backyard. The coral reef is the true economic engine of Marathon and the Keys as a whole. Without the protections it provides for us from storms and the resources we have access to because of it, this paradise would not exist. As a coral ecologist I have committed my life and career to researching and restoring this unique ecosystem. This experience has given me the skills necessary to understand large-scale and complex issues as well as the ability to craft solutions based on evidence, facts, equity, and common sense. My passion for the environment runs deep but my love for Marathon and the incredible people who live here runs even deeper. I am a hardworking, dedicated, out-of-the-box thinker with a proven track record of research success in Marathon and throughout the Keys.
Quiero ser su próximo concejal de la ciudad de Marathon para asegurar una futura prospera y contenta para la gente que trabajan y viven aquí. Nadie se preocupa más de los lugareños que yo.
ROBYN STILL
I run on a platform of honesty, openness, and integrity. My goal is to continue to bring these principles to the dais and serve the residents of Marathon.
Public service has been a major part of my adult life. I was a law enforcement officer for 22 years prior to retiring. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Justice and Security.
I moved to Marathon in 2016 when my husband and I bought The Tackle Box. Our store is open seven days a week, including holidays. I understand hard work and living paycheck to paycheck. I am an everyday, working resident.
I was appointed to City Council in February. I have a desire to serve, and I feel uniquely qualified to continue to represent you on City Council.
Marathon is facing a lot of serious issues and challenges and there are no quick or easy answers. After my appointment I decided to first focus on illegal vacation rentals because it could immediately be addressed with more aggressive enforcement.
I learned that there was monitoring software the City could purchase that would aid in identifying illegal vacation rentals. In May I added vacation rentals as a discussion topic on the Council agenda where I brought up the monitoring software. In June the City purchased the monitoring software and by July the software was up and running and had already identified and cited violators.
Since the purchase of this software $20,000 in fines have been imposed on violators.
Multiple homeowners have also come into voluntary compliance after being identified as being in violation.
I realize vacation rentals is not the sole issue which needs to be dealt with, but our other issues will require all municipalities working together with the county and with our residents.
The residents of Marathon deserve to have their voices heard. They deserve to be respected by leaders who will openly listen to their concerns.
Leadership means listening to everyone, shelving personal agendas, and representing all citizens.
Please vote for me on November 8 to retain my seat on City Council.
MIKE LEONARD
My life had a new beginning when I married Lindsay Rabito Leonard, and became a full time Marathon resident. After 23 years of fishing and owning property in Key West, I found Marathon! It did not take long for me to fall in love with the community and its people, which is why I have dedicated myself to Marathon, and our local community. A portion of that dedication is:
Being a High School Mentor for Take Stock
Chairman of the Fisherman’s Hospital Foundation Council from 2017-2021
Member Rotary Club of Marathon
Chairman of Rotary Golf Outings raising $15,000 for Scholarships
Member Fisherman’s Hospital Board of Directors (2018-2021)
Past member of Marathon’s Code Board
Past member of Marathon’s Planning Commission
Past member of Monroe County Value Tax Board
Winner of the 2019 Henry Flagler Settler Award at Best of Marathon
Over the last 10-years Marathon has experienced a building boom like we never imagine. Yet today, after all that growth Marathon’s key issues have remained unchanged. These issues are:
A Crisis with Workforce & Affordable Housing
Code & Vacation Rental Enforcement, which must be restructured
My plan, when elected, is to resolve those issues! It will not be easy but it has decades-long success. It will begin with working with Council to form “Marathon Housing & Finance Authority” which is a public/private partnership that can actually solve the housing crisis. This partnership will provide results and will improve Locals quality of life!
I will request that Council authorize the Restructuring of the Code and Vacation Rental enforcement divisions and review the appropriate ordinances. Divide the city into 4- zones, stagger working hours that will improve enforcement. With this new approach we can improve enforcement and thereby improve our Locals lifestyle.
I have publicly pledged my support to the Marathon locals and I intend, with the help of my fellow Council Members, to attack and solve these lingering issues. When elected, I promise to take immediate action to implement these ideas and improve your quality of life.
RICHARD TAMBORRINO
Marathon voters should elect me because I represent the balance this city should return to.
I am a middle-class retiree. Many residents here look like me.
I am not wealthy, not beholden to any special interests, and don’t own a business or represent one in Marathon. I simply want to offer my time, experience, and energy to the public service efforts I embraced throughout 35 years in the newspaper industry, seven of which directly impacted Keys residents during my tenure at the Keynoter and the Citizen.
I support local business because they employ working class families, those that are living paycheck to paycheck and are one negative life experience away from financial disaster. That’s one reason why I’ve devoted almost my entire 10 years in the Keys to being an active, senior Board member of the United Way of Collier and the Keys.
My business experience is perfectly suited for a Council position. As a publisher, I was charged with balancing the needs of local business with readers, while also accomplishing corporate ownership’s goals of profitability and strong journalism. That’s the balance a Council member must offer, albeit in a governmental setting.
I overcame severe challenges in the newspaper industry and flourished in many respects because I adapted and took smart, well-assessed risks, while never losing sight of keeping people employed and delivering what a small community like the Keys depended upon. Again, the same skills required of a responsible Council voice.
I may not be as personally well-known among long-standing Marathon residents, but that’s a benefit in one specific way; I get to forge new, unbiased relationships and demonstrate my value to locals firsthand, which is an exciting opportunity.
What Marathon voters will get with me is a sound, logical voice, willing to learn and assess complex issues. I’ll listen to both resident and business concerns and arrive at solutions that are in the best interests of the city overall.
All Marathon residents should have a voice. My presence on the Marathon City Council will guarantee that.
