Heather Gracy on the Patch Podium: Experience

As part of our continuing coverage of Dunedin's upcoming elections, we are launching a question-of-the-week feature leading up to the election. This is the candidates' opportunity to answer some questions that might be on residents' minds, right here on the Patch Podium. 

This week, we asked:

• How will your past work and life experience contribute to your role on as commissioner, should you be elected?

Heather Gracy responds:

I am an accomplished business woman and well known for my community work and leadership. Coordinator, Coach, liaison, landlord, supervisor, NASD licensed, board chair, manager, university graduate, immediate past chair, member…all are titles of leadership that I’ve held in 25 years of living in Dunedin. 

My Florida State University education helped me secure a job that would become a successful career. I began as a writer for a worldwide financial services company supporting and defending the company’s product performance and explaining transfer agent policies. When I was promoted into management, I was responsible for 40 person staff, a six figure budget, fair and lawful treatment of employees, and training and employee development relative to financial industry standards. 

My role as a legal analyst required many aspects of compliance; not unlike much of the city’s business and government affairs. I served various boards of directors, accomplished Fortune 500 men and women. I learned from their decisions, watched their behavior and their committees and conversations. I’m not new to board rooms; I respect healthy and civil discourse, procedure and decorum. As an elected official, voters should expect nothing less. 

Ten years ago, I took a risk and changed my career. While I walked away from a steady paycheck and healthy benefits package in order to raise our children and support my husband’s career, I kept my business skills, talents and the many lessons I learned along the way. All of this I will use and apply to the job of city commissioner, should voters decide to elect me as the next Commissioner in Seat 3. 

A recent and responsible volunteer position that I held was to serve as the Chair of my children’s school’s (OLL) School Advisory Council. I was appointed into this position just as our economy began to sour in 2008. Suddenly, with declining enrollment, operations were challenged. While costs soared and budgets tightened, I was determined to move forward despite the growing challenges. I recruited stakeholders and subject matter experts and asked for latitude where we could afford it. While we worked and sacrificed, keeping true to the mission of the school, I led the Board through a focused three year strategic plan. Today our school enrollment is growing and is on better financial ground. 

My experience and education have prepared me well to serve on the city commission. It is time for new and different leadership representing Seat 3. Political experience does not guarantee that the elected officials will make good decisions for Dunedin. The real issue in this election is about making good decisions for all Dunedin citizens. I understand and agree with our citizens vision and hope for a better Dunedin. I will make good decisions to insure that we protect our community assets even in difficult financial times. 

Related Coverage:

• Heather Gracy Looking to 'Come in Fresh'
• Carson Vs Gracy for Commission Seat 3

See also, David Carson's response.