2022 General - Voter Guide Ranking

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Elizabeth Siebert

County Commissioner District 2 - REP

2022 Clean Water Questionnaire Responses

To read each question, answer and candidate comments click below.

  • Question 1 : Yes
    1) The application of biosolids to farmland has been implicated in water pollution and harmful algal blooms in the St. Johns River and Big Cypress Lake. While temporary bans on the application of biosolids have been enacted, your county has not permanently banned the practice. Do you favor a permanent ban on the application of biosolids in your county?
    Yes
    Candidate Comment:

    As your next county commissioner, I've promised to take more aggressive action to clean up our lagoon which has been neglected for the past 20 years. Small interventions like oyster beds have not significantly cleaned up the lagoon as evidenced by the dying seagrass and aquatic life. For many the lagoon use to provide professional, economic and recreational opportunities. Our environment, including water, is critical to our communities health and safety.

  • Question 2 : Yes
    2) Though water quality in the Indian River Lagoon is improving, seagrass continues to die and imperil the endangered manatee populations. There's a growing consensus that the continued use of herbicides like Glyphosate (Roundup) may play a role in this; and a 2021 scientific study found Glyphosate in more than half of all Florida manatees sampled. Do you support banning spraying herbicides in waters (canals, streams and creeks) entering the Indian River Lagoon?
    Yes
    Candidate Comment:

    I would like to have mandatory water testing for canals, streams, and creeks to reduce pesticide levels in waterways. Further, let's take a scientific approach to find a resolution to restore the lagoon.

  • Question 3 : Yes
    3) State legislation, FDEP data and the Blue-Green Algae Task Force all report agriculture as the dominant source of phosphorus and nitrogen within most impaired watersheds of Florida. Do you agree industries and property owners should be held to clearly enforceable pollution standards and penalties; including mandatory adoption and verification of best management practices, and to implement inspection programs targeting septic, agriculture and industrial wastewater?
    Yes
    Candidate Comment:

    Yes except in the city limits of Vero Beach where they are already being taxed to restore the lagoon. I do not believe in double taxation under any circumstance.

  • Question 4 : Yes
    2) Florida is booming, with an estimated 1,000 people moving here every day. As a result, development is pushing growth further into Florida’s rural and natural areas, imperiling wildlife and natural resources like clean water. Will you oppose changes to your county’s Comprehensive Plan/Urban Development Boundary that would allow non-agricultural development in rural areas outside the urban, most densely developed area(s) in your county?
    Yes
    Candidate Comment:

    I am committed to managing eco-friendly growth. I'm the only candidate for District #2 who hasn't received monies from land developers and special interest groups.

  • Question 5 : Yes
    5) The Clean Waterways Act, passed in 2020, compels county governments and municipalities to resolve excess nutrient loading from septic and antiquated wastewater treatment systems. These pollution sources continue to adversely impact the health of the Northern Indian River Lagoon Complex (Indian River, Banana River, Mosquito Lagoon). Will you prioritize, in partnership with the state, the funding of wastewater treatment infrastructure and advocate for septic to sewer conversion requirements to meet the law’s standards?
    Yes
    Candidate Comment:

    The EU they have addressed its water pollution issues using the following interventions to protect humans, animals, plants, and the environment by ensuring that heavy metals in soil and sludge do not exceed set limits and increasing the amount of sewage sludge used in agriculture with the exception of fruit trees. We can modify their plans for our community to restore the natural ecosystem of the lagoon.Switiching from spetic to sewer without overburdening the taxpayer can be accomplished through grants, banning biosolids and banning roundup from our waters.