VoteWater, a South Florida clean-water advocacy group, has endorsed Merritt Matheson for Stuart City Commissioner, Group III.

“Merritt has been on the front lines of the fight to end damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River for years,” said VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart.

“He personally reached out to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help them better understand the damage inflicted by the discharges. And as a board member of the Rivers Coalition and co-chair of the Martin County Forever land acquisition program, he’s been a consistent and dedicated advocate for our waterways and our environment,” said Smart.

Matheson, who previously served on the Stuart City Commission from 2018-2022, including a stint as the city’s Mayor, said the city must “make advocating for our estuary a top priority year round.”

“Protecting the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Lucie estuary, and the Everglades requires action at both the regional and local levels,” he said. “Reducing harmful discharges must remain a top priority. Locally, we must also take responsibility for improving the water that flows into our rivers and lagoon. And muck removal in our tributaries and the entire estuary is a critical next step for recovery.”

During his time on the city commission, Matheson represented Stuart as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), providing input as the Corps crafted the new water-control plan.

He led boat tours of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River for Corps and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) officials, pointing out specific locations impacted by Lake O discharges and giving water managers a clearer picture of the ecological consequences of opening the floodgates.

A lifelong resident of Martin County, Matheson helped create and guide the Martin County Forever program, which utilizes revenues from a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to buy and preserve environmentally significant lands.

“Merritt understands that Stuart’s waterways are vital to our environment, our economy, and our way of life,” said VoteWater’s Smart.

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.