MEET THE CANDIDATES
SEAT 1 – LOIS PARITSKY
Lois A. Paritsky
4757 S. Atlantic Ave #704
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Phone Number:
386.310.4320
Email Address:
lois@lois4mayor.com
Website:
Lois4mayor.com
Resume:
Read Lois Paritsky’s Resume
Why I Am Running for Mayor
My driving passion is the protection and preservation of Ponce Inlet for future generations. My entire professional career, as an attorney and an elected official, has been devoted to advocating for the rights and protections of others. In addition to my duties as Vice Mayor, I serve as the voice and the face of Ponce Inlet in Tallahassee and Washington DC. The challenges we currently face, such as short-term rentals, resiliency, and erosion of home rule, are the issues I am now directly involved with. I seek the opportunity to put my skills and experience to work to ensure that what makes our Town so special will endure.
Highlights of My Tenure:
Our fiscal discipline and efficient management are near the top of the list. Ponce Inlet was involved in a protracted and expensive lawsuit which strained our finances for almost a decade. I inherited that situation when I was first sworn in during 2015. As of today, we have record levels of cash reserves, and our financial condition has never been better. Since 2015, we increased Fire/EMS funding by 51% and Police funding by 21%. To enhance public safety, we added 3 Firefighters to the payroll and purchased a brand-new ambulance.
My Goals & Vision
- Preserve our “No Drive” beaches.
- Our current Firehouse is a Circa 1970s design. Our first responders deserve a new home. Let’s begin to explore infrastructure grants and funding options for this new facility.
- Explore options for a new Community Center under State and Federal Resiliency Grants.
- Step up enforcement of short-term rental regulations.
- Advocate for resilient development and prepare the community for the threats we face from sea level rise and severe weather.
- Establish quarterly Town Hall meetings at the Community Center with all 5 Councilmembers present.
POSITION STATEMENT:
A beautiful, natural and well-preserved environment is the reason many of our residents chose to call Ponce Inlet home. This environment includes not only the beautiful parks and preserves, but the services we rely upon as essential to our everyday lives. I hope to encourage our residents and business owners’ participation in ensuring that our home remains a reflection of our desires as set forth in our visioning statement. Issues of tourism and short-term rental concerns remain a focus of mine as we address all issues that are important to our community. Some of the additional issues are:
Fire/EMS, Police:
I support Community Based Fire/EMS and Police Service. I believe that this model represents the best method of service delivery for Ponce Inlet. Our Fire Station is a circa-1970s design that is long past its prime. Our Firefighters and EMS crews could use a new home. I would like to begin the process of exploring available grant money to help move this forward. Our community strongly supports our Firefighters, admires their professionalism and dedication and I believe we would have widespread public backing for moving them into a modernized facility.
Our Community Financial Health:
We should continue our current path of fiscal discipline and responsible budgetary policies. Right now, our record high cash reserves and record low debt ratio has placed us in the strongest financial position we have ever been. Maintaining comparatively low millage rates (within all of Volusia County) demonstrates the careful and prudent management of our tax dollars.
Infrastructure:
Preparing Ponce Inlet to become a resilient town by meeting sea level rise and flooding challenges is a significant goal. A vulnerability study is underway, and we will begin strategic planning to implement the changes necessary to protect our Town. An example of planning can include our Community Center, which is in a flood sensitive area. There may be opportunities to seek grant money for a new facility. Our Community Center (or PICCI) is the hub of social activity in our town, and a new facility may increase citizen participation and attendance in the various events we hold each year.
Protecting Our Simple, Small Town Way of Life:
At the time I was sworn in for my first term in 2015, the Town was involved in a protracted, expensive and divisive lawsuit involving the application of our Land Use and Development Code (or LUDC.) Our legal fees were more than $5,000,000 and our community was bitterly divided. It is imperative that our elected officials have a comprehensive understanding of and appropriately apply the LUDC. Working with my fellow Councilmembers, I will apply my experience, skills and knowledge to help ensure that we never again have to bear the pain and expense of complex litigation.
PONCE INLET CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 2021
LOIS PARITSKY – SEAT 1 – MAYOR
1. What do you feel are the three most critical issues facing the town and why?
Resiliency:
If Ponce Inlet ever experiences a major flooding event that partially or fully submerges our streets and single-story structures, everything else on our agenda will be placed on hold. Our infrastructure could be damaged to the degree that much of our town is rendered uninhabitable.
I would like to focus our community on resiliency so that we are as prepared as possible for the inevitable challenges we will face. The threats from severe weather and rising seas are not going away. Every single year, we learn about communities that were devastated by severe weather, storm surges and flooding.
Resilient construction methods are becoming more and more popular, and some good examples are now present in Ponce Inlet. In terms of our existing structures, the science of resiliency will help us prepare and recover as quickly as possible when the time comes. My appointment to the Advisory Board of the American Flood Coalition in Washington DC, will help a great deal toward this goal. I am learning about grant and funding opportunities and have had conversations with other municipal officials whose communities are effectively mitigating the same risks we face. Collaboration with our State and Federal partners is also an important part of the process of making Ponce Inlet as resilient as possible.
The time to prepare is now, not when a Category 5 storm is right off our coast.
Expansion of Beach Driving:
One change that would dramatically and substantially alter our enjoyment of the natural environment would be to turn our current “No-Drive” beaches into a parking lot. I adamantly oppose any expansion of the current drive-on portion of our beach. Our Council recently sent a letter to the Volusia County Council voicing our opposition to any expansion.
If elected Mayor, I will be installed as the President of the Volusia League of Cities in 2022. This will provide our residents an important seat at the table at a time when our relationship with the County has never been more important.
Home Rule:
Most of our residents will tell you that they chose Ponce Inlet for the small-town charm and simple way of life it offers. Unfortunately, legislation in Tallahassee and Washington DC constantly threaten to undermine our ability to regulate our local environment. As the Advocacy Chair of the Volusia League of Cities, I will continue to use my position to ensure that our voices are heard at the State and Federal levels. Ponce Inlet residents know what is best for Ponce Inlet. Home Rule advocacy means “Local Voices for Local Choices.”
*** Please note that growth management, traffic congestion and abuses relating to our short term rental regulations are also top concerns for me. The C4Pi asked separate questions about those specific issues to be answered at the debate. To avoid repetition, I will addresses those issues there.
2. When you hear something that concerns you in town, what steps would you take to see that this concern is resolved?
The first step is to hear directly from the impacted resident(s) or business owner and gather detailed information about the situation. It is important to be open minded and to understand the problem from their perspective. In my experience, a site visit can often be extremely helpful. From that point forward, Councilmembers are required to follow the Charter and start with the Manager before approaching any Department Heads.
Once the Manager has been briefed on the situation, Councilmembers can work with Department Heads and staff members to help resolve or mitigate the impact. I have found that a thorough understanding of the underlying codes, ordinances and statutes can provide a road map for a workable and mutually agreeable solution. Quite often, problems identified by residents and business owners will prompt the Council to look at an ordinance and consider changes as needed.
Most importantly, residents and business owners need to feel confident that their elected officials will go to work on their behalf and solve problems whenever possible. On rare instances, preemptions in state law or agreements with the County may tie the hands of the Council. When this occurs, a discussion with the Town Attorney may identify an option which was not apparent when Council and staff investigated the matter.
Lastly, I feel it is important to keep the resident or business owner up to date as the efforts are made to resolve the concern, and to assure the resident or business owner that their issue, until its resolution, is being addressed.
3. What are your views on the town’s Visioning Statement?
Our visioning statement, which dates back to 2002, reflects the resolve of our residents to maintain the charm and character of our Town and serves as a road map for the future of our community. I strongly support the ideals set forth in our visioning statement. I refer to these ideals as part of the decision-making process on Council to ensure that the intent and will of our residents, as reflected in the visioning statement, are expressed through our codes, ordinances and resolutions.
Our community values its natural environment and its rich history. We are a tree city, a monarch butterfly city, and a bird sanctuary. We enjoy and protect our parks and preserves. I encourage our new residents to read about our history so there is a deep understanding of what makes Ponce Inlet so special. I sincerely believe that the more we learn about our Town, the greater our love and desire to protect what we treasure.
The visioning statement also touches upon community involvement in our various organizations and civic groups. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our community and I always encourage people to learn, participate and become involved in our community. It is a wonderful way to get to know our neighbors and enhance our own enjoyment and appreciation of our lives in the special place we call home.
4. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?
Our community is home to individuals with a broad range of professional and life experiences, with relevant knowledge and skills pertaining to matters that come before Town Council. Their input is both welcome and encouraged.
The newly created Essential Services Board (ESB) provides our residents with level of input that has never existed in the past. Prior to its creation, important items relating to the current needs for police, fire, public works, master planning and other important issues would appear on the Council Agenda just one week before the monthly meeting. The ESB is a forum where residents can be heard as policies, purchases and proposals are discussed in their initial stages. Residents can interact directly with department heads, ask questions, provide suggestions, and participate as never before.
Additionally, I would like to see the implementation of quarterly Town Hall meetings at the Community Center which would be publicly noticed, and all five Councilmembers would attend. An open forum session would provide the opportunity for residents to speak at will about topics of concern to them. Florida law calls for Government in the Sunshine. I will always work toward achieving this goal.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 1 – Town of Ponce Inlet, Citizens for Ponce Inlet (CFPI)
Page 2 – Candidates Forum, Ponce Inlet Election 2021
Page 3 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 1 (Mayor) – Tony Goudie
Page 4 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 1 (Mayor) – Lois Paritsky
Page 5 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 3 – Elizabeth Caswell
Page 6 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 3 – David Loh
Page 7 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 5 – Gary Smith
Page 8 – Garden Club of Ponce Inlet
Page 9 – Ponce Animal Welfare (PAW), Women’s Club
Page 10 – Ponce Inlet Lions Club
Page 11 – PICCI, PI Lighthouse Assoc., PI Veterans Memorial Assoc.
Page 12 – Marine Science Center
Page 13 – Ponce Church