THIS FLORIDA KEYS MAYOR NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE

Islamorada native Buddy Pinder didn’t think a run for political office was in his future, let alone sitting center on the dais. 

“My father was in politics. He was on the mosquito control board for 18 years,” Pinder said. “He was a constable. He was involved with the sheriff and Harry Harris, the county commissioner.”

His first taste of politics was in 2014 when he ran for a village council seat against Deb Gillis, who won the race by 45 votes.

Fast forward to a victory on election night 2020, followed by a unanimous vote to name him mayor, and Pinder is settling in with his four fellow councilmen — all facing decisions that will drive the village’s future.

Pinder reminisces on his younger years fishing, and to the days of longtime Keys resident Ted Williams, Hall of Fame baseball player who also was named to the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame. Pinder is a sixth-generation resident with a passion for water quality and the village. A former businessman, Pinder’s private excavating company has worked on many large infrastructure projects in the Keys.

“I guess I was kind of bored,” Pinder said of his decision to run. “We sold our business and our partner took off on a sailboat. I said I’m way too young to retire.”

The qualifying period to run for village office was dwindling. August 11 was approaching, and Pinder said he didn’t see anybody’s name qualified for seat 3. He decided to throw his hat in the ring.

“When I went over to the village office, no one had qualified. I kept calling clerk Kelly (Toth) saying ‘Did anyone qualify?’ The answer was ‘no,’ so I went over and qualified.”

He ended up qualifying, but saw an opponent in Jenny Bell-Thomson. Pinder secured the victory on Nov. 3 with a total of 2,311 votes — the most among all candidates who ran for seats.

Donning a mask, he was sworn in on Nov. 19 and chosen as mayor. Since then, Pinder has navigated meetings that cover a host of issues. They include the pedestrian bridge project near Founders Park, an ongoing pandemic that closed the administrative building to the public for a few weeks, and a search for the next village manager.

“I think we’re off to a great start,” Pinder said. “I just think we have to concentrate now on the village manager search. We should, on Feb. 4, pick a search agency. Hopefully we will hire an agency and get on it.

“I’m learning a lot along the way, and that’s why I’m spending a lot of time over at village hall with (acting village manager) Maria Bassett and (village attorney) Roget Bryan,” he continued.

During a Jan. 14 meeting, the village council authorized Pinder to pen a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis and James Wolfe, District 6 secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation, requesting a halt to the pedestrian bridge construction near Founders Park (see page 11 for more). The letter was sent last week and the village is awaiting a response. Pinder said he’s expected to hop on the line with Wolfe regarding the matter on Jan. 28.

Pinder said he wasn’t sure how council was going to vote. He was against the idea of an elevated walkway across U.S. 1 since day one, saying the structure is contrary to the village’s mission statement and inconsistent with the community’s character.

“It was 5-0 on that bridge. I didn’t expect that,” he said of the unanimous vote to oppose the bridge and send a letter to state leaders.

Moving ahead, Pinder said he hopes the council finds the next village manager who’ll serve for many years to come. He’s also looking forward to seeing how the council addresses the affordable housing shortage in the village. Village council convenes on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. for a virtual meeting. Residents can tune in via Zoom, Comcast or Islamorada’s website.

Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.