VoteWater, a South Florida clean-water advocacy group, has endorsed Campbell Rich for Stuart City Commissioner, Group I.

“Campbell knows that cleaner water depends on people working together,” said VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart.

“The fight to improve water quality and stop harmful Lake O discharges to the St. Lucie River requires strident advocacy, but it also demands quieter, behind-the-scenes efforts to build coalitions among a range of stake- holders who share the same objective,” said Smart. “That’s Campbell’s strength.”

Rich is serving his first term on the Stuart City Commission, which included a stint as Mayor. A long-time Martin County resident, he helped found the U.S. Sailing Center of Martin County and has served on numerous boards, commissions and committees, including the Indian River Lagoon Council Board of Directors, the Florida League of Cities’ Water and Natural Resources Statewide Policy Board, the Stuart Local Planning Agency and more. He won the Florida League of Cities’ “Home Rule Hero Award” four times.

“The primary responsibility of any elected official is protecting public health and safety,” said Rich. “In the City of Stuart, nothing is more fundamental to that mission than the health of the St. Lucie River and the estuary it sustains. 

“Harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee have poisoned our waterways in the past,” Rich said. “I am proud to represent a community that has made a strong and determined commitment to make sure that doesn’t happen again. The City of Stuart is in a unique position to wage this battle and, working with other municipalities, advocates strongly at the state and federal level to protect funding for Everglades restoration.” 

Said VoteWater’s Smart: “Clean water is a team sport — and Campbell Rich knows how to play the game.”

Headquartered in Stuart, VoteWater is a 501(c)(4) organization which works to inspire Floridians to demand leaders and policies that promote clean water. VoteWater’s sole criteria in issuing endorsements is a candidate’s position on water-related issues.