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Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club Restored to its original vision
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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 3/ISSUE 50
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
John Haddox reveals Shoes in the news re-election bid Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
PALM CITY — County Commissioner John Haddox is running for re-election. Haddox said he’s not for politically labeling himself, but others have handed him one. “I’m being labeled as a ‘populist,’” he said. “I guess that means I’m in touch with the entire community.” Haddox’s reelection bid comes as Martin faces several major issues. One example is All Aboard Florida, the proposed high-speed passenger train that’s slated to cut a swath through the Treasure Coast on a Miami to Orlando route 32 times a day. No Martin County elected official or political candidate is going to favor the train, because there’s too much evidence it will have a deleterious effect on the region. But Haddox said he’s done more than bemoan the train. “I’ve led the way in opposition to All Aboard Florida at a government level,” Haddox said. Earlier this year Haddox proposed creation of a $1.4 million county fund to pay for studies, legal actions and other advocacy against All Aboard Florida. The Martin County Commission unanimously nodded at its creation. The odd number, $1.4 million, is 1 percent of the county’s ad valorem tax collection. On the same day, Indian River County’s commission voted to put $2.7 million over two years into an ante for combating All Aboard Florida. While opposition to the train is popular in Martin County, Haddox has taken strong stances on dividing issues during his freshman
John Haddox term. He was elected in 2012 and this is his first reelection bid. “I’m still a very strong proponent of our (community redevelopment areas), because I think they have a strong opportunity to increase our economic development,” he said. The county’s Community Redevelopment Agency and its seven community redevelopment areas have been under increasing fire from some in the public and three members of the County Commission: Sarah Heard, Ed Fielding and Ann Scott. The three voted against proposed road and swale work to start the decade-old proposed Mapp Road Town Center Design, a New-Urbanism concept to turn Mapp into a pedestrian-friendly downtowneque area from Martin Highway to Martin Downs Boulevard. Haddox and Doug Smith voted for the pro-
See RE-ELECTION page 8
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Rob Ranieri of Palm City and his son Nicholas warm up and stretch before going to ‘Walk A Mile In Her Shoes’ for SafeSpace’s annual event Saturday, Oct. 10 in Fort Pierce. SafeSpace offers victims of domestic violence safety, support and education, empowering them to create an independent life, free from violence.
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