Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Dunedin Commission Seat 3 candidates David Carson and Heather Gracy are neck and neck in the campaign money race. Who's donating to who? Find out here.
With Dunedin's city elections just two weeks away, political opponents Commissioner David Carson and Heather Gracy are neck and neck in the money race. Gracy is $25 ahead of Carson in campaign fundraising. She has raised $21,345, with notable support coming from past and current Dunedin Fine Art Center board members. Carson has raised $21,320, with $10,000 of the reported funds coming from a loan to himself. Gracy is outspending Carson by a wide margin with $12,360 toward mailers, campaign swag, parties and marketing, nearly two-thirds more than Carson's $4,570. Carson and Gracy are vying for City of Dunedin's Commission Seat 3 on Nov. 6. Follow the links to see a breakdown of some of the candidates' contributions:
Commission Seat 3 candidate Heather Gracy received an outpouring of financial support from members of Dunedin Fine Art Center advisory board and board of directors. She has also outspent her opponent on mailers, parties and marketing.
Heather Gracy is neck and neck with incumbent David Carson in the campaign money race. With a tally of $21,345, she has raised $25 more than Carson so far. Gracy has spent more than half of what she's raised — about $12,360 — mostly on printing and marketing with AdSharp, Inc., a company owned by Bill Francisco, chairman of the Dunedin Fine Art Center advisory board. Gracy also received a large or numerous contributions from many other Dunedin Fine Art Center board of directors and advisory board members, from Sail Honeymoon and the Dunedin Firefighter's Association. The Dunedin Fine Art Center recently asked the city for $500,000 in funding to match a "rare grant opportunity" for a planned expansion of its West Wing and Sail Honeymoon is…
Longtime Florida legislator Tom Anderson and several Dunedin Chamber of Commerce board members donated to Commissioner David Carson's re-election campaign.
Dunedin city commission incumbent David Carson is neck and neck with opponent Heather Gracy in the campaign money race. Carson has raised $21,320, which includes a $10,000 loan to himself made in June. He has spent only about $4,570, mostly on printing and design costs. Carson recieved financial support from Tom Anderson, former Dunedin mayor and longtime Florida legislator who Carson recently appointed to the citizen volunteer Board of Finance ($100). Anderson's wife, Alice, also contributed ($100). Carson also received several contributions from people or businesses presently or formerly affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce board, on which Carson once held a seat, to include Jeff Rhoads of Florida Auto Exchange, John McElaney, Terbo…
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Candidates were asked: If you could leave one indelible policy mark on Dunedin, what would it be?
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
This week, we asked the candidates: Heather Gracy responds: As a Dunedin City Commissioner, I will strive to include a "sense of place" in policies so the characteristics of Dunedin are represented in all we do and create. Although the term itself is broad by definition, a sense of place applies to a variety of functions such as geography, urban planning, nature, landscapes, community, recreation and arts and culture. Many residents have mentioned this term with me during my campaign through Dunedin. City staff members and committees have included it in many meetings with me. In searching for the definition that made the most sense to me in terms of an indelible policy mark, I offer the following from the National Trust for Historic …
Candidates were asked: If you could leave one indelible policy mark on Dunedin, what would it be?
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
This week, we asked the candidates: David Carson responds: As defined an indelible mark is a mark not easily removed. Wow, that is an intense question and really very difficult to answer. As I have said on many occasions this commission works as a team and not one commissioner can change anything without support from other members of the commission. So indelible marks would be success stories shared by the commission as a whole. With that said, I am quite pleased with the changes this commission made as it relates to storm water. Our citizens have historically been left to fend on their own when infrastructure that lies under or on their property needs repair. This infrastructure is used by the City to move storm water from the eastern-…
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
What is the biggest public safety concern for Dunedin residents? Commission Seat 3 candidates answer how they'll go about solving it, if elected this fall.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
This week, we asked the candidates: Heather Gracy responds: When residents take the initiative to establish watch programs in their neighborhoods, the city and law enforcement should listen, support and investigate whenever and wherever possible. It appears to me as I listen to concerned Dunedin residents they want a safer environment on the streets and areas where they live. As recently as this past August, residents of Lyndhurst Street provide a shining example of an area taking proactive measures to increase community awareness of drug prevention. They are sending a determined signal to criminals that they will continue the full court press of reporting suspicious behavior [to the] the authorities. Current city officials should continue…
What is the biggest public safety concern for Dunedin residents? Commission Seat 3 candidates answer how they'll go about solving it, if elected this fall.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
This week, we asked the candidates: David Carson responds: A big thank you to the Patch for providing this public service information for the voters of Dunedin. I think there are actually two almost equally important public safety issues facing us in the near future. The first issue appears to be an increase in drug activity and potential gang presence on our south side of town. A couple of years ago the current commission established a south side citizen's committee that has been active and passionate about taking back their neighborhood. This citizen's group has been meeting regularly and is filled with high quality motivated people and I am confident they will make a difference. The sheriff's department has beefed up their attention to…
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Heather Gracy campaign sent a mailer to Dunedin residents last week accusing her political opponent Commissioner David Carson of back-door politics and cronyism.
The Heather Gracy campaign issued a political attack on David Carson that arrived in many residents' mailboxes last week. The mailer features an unflattering profile photo of Commissioner Carson next to a list questioning his ethics and criticizing his decisions as an elected official. The list also contains claims that Carson is a party to back-door politics and cronyism, while portraying Gracy as honest and void of any conflicts of interest. Heather Gracy said she signed off on the mailers, which began arriving in resdents' mailboxes last week. Gracy declined to reveal how many homes she sent the campaign material to. What do you think? Does the mailer hold merit?
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
City candidates answered individual voter questions on topics ranging from public safety to domestic partner registries during Wednesday's forum at the Hale Senior Activity Center.
For most of the evening Dunedin city candidates answered questions but their opponents were not given the same chance to respond Wednesday. The candidate forum, sponsored by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and moderated by the League of Women Voters, drew a crowd of roughly 200 to the Hale Senior Activity Center. All four candidates — Dave Eggers and Bob Hackworth for mayor and David Carson and Heather Gracy for Commission Seat 3 — were present. Each delivered a prepared opening and closing statement, and responded to questions related to the contract with the Toronto Blue Jays (which expires in five years), their level of support for the Dunedin Fine Art Center and the Dunedin Historical Society and what challenges the city faces over the…
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Hale Senior Activity Center
330 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, FL
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Each of the commission candidates took a moment on the Patch Podium to explain what can be done to spur development in Dunedin.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
This week, we asked the candidates: David Carson responds: The stalled developments you mention will be very important as the economy improves. We must make sure the codes and height restrictions are clear for investors to know what will be allowed, then we must welcome these people to develop good projects. It will be critical when a good project, that follows the rules, is presented we must make the approval process smooth and timely for the customer of the City. Yes, I believe we need to continue to improve our relationships with people that come into the City with requests for permits, advice, and ideas on how to make their project work. Our current City Staff has made great strides in making the experience more friendly since they …
joe liechty
9:55 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Happier, you are soooo right! more ›