2022 General - Voter Guide Ranking

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

• 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

• 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:

  I am a proponent of septic to sewer conversion and our county is working hard on that today. I will continue those efforts

• Question 4 : No
  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?

  No

  Candidate Comment:

  I am deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing in Brevard. In talking with friends from the environmental community, the conversation today is more focused on implementing low-impact strategies in future developments. Xeriscape only communities could be the tradeoff in the years to come.

• 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:

  Absolutely. I worked for the Florida Legislature and I have a good working relationship with Brevard's delegation. As County Commissioner, I intend to continue the push for septic to sewer conversions and with the State being a funding partner to speed it up our efforts.