On Aug. 26th, voters in the Republican primary election will select the nominee who in all likelihood will represent District 5 (which includes the southern half of the barrier island) on the Indian River County Commission.

We asked the three major candidates: “What is the most important issue facing the barrier island, and why should oceanside residents vote for you?”

One of the three candidates, incumbent Sandra L. Bowden, chose not to respond.

The response of Bob Solari is published below.

The most important issue in this election cycle is whether we will retain our present form of government or change to a charter
government.

I support Representative Democracy. Representative Democracy is the form of government, which has made America the greatest country in the world and Indian River County one of the premier counties in the State of Florida. No other form of government has been as successful – anywhere.

Our Founding Fathers chose Representative Democracy for us and embedded it in our constitution. Men like Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison all knew that man was basically a flawed creature and that Representative Democracy was not perfect but they knew that there was no better form of government available.

A move to a charter government is a radical step, which will bring to Indian River County the problems that it brought to the overdeveloped charter counties to the south. It will do nothing to insure that our county develops in a way, which protects our great resources while taking advantage of our opportunities.

The only reason that the Charter advocates have given for this drastic change is an assertion that it will somehow control growth. Experience shows that it has not controlled growth in Miami, Broward, Palm Beach or Orange Counties. This is not surprising because charter was not designed as a tool to control growth.

The proper tools are the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Land Development Regulations. Both need significant changes to preserve our most vital resources and properly develop the County.

Charter government will not improve the lives of our people. It will not protect our county and its precious resources. It will not help to build the community that we want to hand down to our children and grandchildren. Only hard work, adherence to principles and leadership will do that.

Charter government will allow the County Commissioners to gather more power onto themselves with the inevitable future charter changes. Soon all constitutional officers could be appointed by the Commissioners rather than elected by the voters.

The commissioners could soon strip the municipalities of their power and dictate the way things should be in Vero Beach, Indian River Shores and Orchid.

For generations utopian liberals and socialists have changed constitutions in an attempt to improve the human condition.

Invariably the result has been societies destroyed and lives ruined. We must do better in our great county.

To read the response of Honey Minuse, please click here.