- November 17, 2024
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Frank J. Meeker
AGE: 59
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Palm Coast
YEARS LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY: 30 years
HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Mentoring our youth, environmental issues, computers, soccer
FAMILY: Wife Debbie, son Jason his wife and their three children, and son Joshua
Explain how your professional career so far has qualified you for this position.
• ITT Community Development Corp., senior environmental permitting and compliance manager for 10 years provided strong knowledge of budgeting, land development, zoning, and land-use issues needed to make wise decisions as a commissioner,
• St. Johns River Water Management District ombudsman, working out of the executive office for the executive director: covered 18 counties for 17 years, saw problems faced by other counties, and know how to resolve them,
• Current Flagler County Commissioner, also Palm Coast City Council experience gives an understanding that government is different from for-profit corporations and making foolish election promises to garnish votes now translates into tax increases to pay for those missteps later,
• Became a certified county commissioner in less than a year. Hold an advanced rating and standard rating of a certified city commissioner creates governmental management experience no other District 2 candidate has.
For incumbents, what votes or other accomplishments are you most proud of in your previous term?
Took a lead role in the short-term vacation rental issue to protect single-family neighborhoods of my constituents. Educated Florida legislators and delivered a fair, balanced solution in Senate Bill 356 that protects our residential neighborhoods,
Started to catch up on capital projects delayed due to economic bust,
Balanced the budget, cut away waste, improved collections which lead to our stronger rating with Standard and Poor’s.
What would you contribute to this office that you feel your opponent can’t?
Local knowledge of complex county issues and local experience dealing with them. I research and bring solutions with the willingness to collaborate with others working for the good of the whole, and not for the special interests. I make my judgment based on facts, not political ideology. Lastly, I have 30 years of connections and relationships up in Tallahassee to help get our concerns recognized, acted on and funded.
What are the three most significant challenges facing your constituents today?
1. The long wait for the private side to gain more confidence in the local economy, kick into gear and initiate more hiring of local talent,
2. Diversification of commercial and industrial opportunities,
3. Important to constituents within my District is a drainage, flooding and groundwater quality issue that has been kicked down the road for the last 50 years.
If elected, what would you do to address the challenges?
1. Demonstrate we are here to help. Continue to expedite permits and approvals. Continue to advertise the lifestyle values available in Flagler County in print and electronic media. Work on relationships with the site selectors. Bring prospective businesses into our Chamber of Commerce and introduce them to the board. Let other businesses help sell the benefits of Flagler County. Continue to support and unleash the economic opportunity folks. Achieving these goals will require unconventional thinking, strategic planning and motivational speaking as we find ways to share what we all love about Flagler County, without wrecking what brought us here in the first place.
2. We’ve made improvements in diversification, but the pace is slow. We need to continually dialog with our existing businesses regarding their needs and try to meet those needs, especially in the dearth of trade workers. Continue to make improvements and investments to the Flagler County Airport. Continue to partner with our friends within the local city jurisdictions, adding our strengths to theirs to attract new businesses and retain those we have. Maintain our strong financial position and hold on to our solid Standard and Poor’s rating.
3. I’m providing the solution, not more talk. We will complete the design and get the permit. During the legislative session, I will lead a four-pronged attack to secure funding under the Total Maximum Daily Load program with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, seek additional stormwater retrofit funding from the St. Johns River Water Management District, go after FEMA HazMit money, and leverage my strong relationships with members of the House and Senate to secure remaining funds.
Previous press coverage of Frank Meeker:
Click here to view previous Palm Coast Observer stories about Frank Meeker, here to view FlaglerLive stories and here to view Daytona Beach News-Journal stories.
