You are running for sonny mccoys seat….. why

Heather explained that she was inspired to run. Lot’s of folks asked her to and also she can’t believe the disregard for transparency. She enjoys problem solving, has a knack for it .

She is the kind of person who believes in "putting up…. Or shutting up", and believes she will be better for the job than Sonny. She has always been involved with many organizations to help the community such as: KW Business Guild, Lodging Assoc. , Sculpture Key West, FIRM, Symphony …. “I believe in giving back to the community. “

What is most critical in the keys right now

Rebuilding our reserves. The falling property value of our homes. We must be smarter in how we spend our money. Waste water is on the top of her priority list

How did the county get in such a financial crises

Spent money on non-essential items like the hickory house and the Vandenberg. The hickory house purchase by the county did not make sense. There was no business plan for the restaurant, we paid the higher appraised price. The public will get access to the waterfront property for only 50 years, the whole thing just didn’t make sense.

Also, we need better reporting to monitor spending monthly and improve accountability.

What are your feelings on affordable housing?

1) A lot of affordable housing is used as a way to build more upscale market rate homes. 2) Many of today’s market rate homes are cheaper than those in affordable developments. 3) ownership – was not the right way to go. 4) the restrictions to purchase affordable is too restricting – each year only 3% can be increased while regular homes can increase up to 20% per year in value. This keeps the owners and these group of people who buy into affordable homes  in an economic disadvantage and continues to depress them. 5) The keys did it all wrong. In Colorado, their numbers are reversed where 60% must be affordable and 40% be allowed market rate. 6) With our percentages, we actually subsidize market rate homes.  7) So many homes now are being foreclosed. We should pick up these foreclosures and RENT.

What is your opinion of Safe Harbor and do you believe there should be allowed a 300 unit hotel? 

Safe Harbor is possibly our last chance to preserve a significant "working waterfront" which, by statute, is a mixed-use commercial area that can include fishing docks, restaurants, shipyards, marinas, retail outlets, boat fueling docks, and even lodging facilities.  There are many positive aspects to the proposed plans, including a boardwalk uniting the waterfront, but a 300-unit hotel that exceeds density and height restrictions is neither in character with Keys culture nor in compliance with our comp plan.

How do you feel about the airport hotels being proposed and the way the airport hotels came up during the BOCC?

What was the process? There was no process! All of a sudden we have RFP’s on this which is  inappropriate. We are not a big municipality which can sustain a hotel at the airport. Tourists can walk half a mile to the Sheridan for a room. There is no need for this.

What is your opinion of the Development that’s been going on in the Keys?

I have different feelings. Property owners should be allowed to build within the existing rules. If outside the rules, there needs to be a compelling public benefit reached by consensus with significant public input, perhaps even by referendum.

Are you a vindictive person?

Not at all and you can talk to the people at FIRM. Just because you have an opinion, doesn’t mean you’re vindictive. I have never taken action against someone to harm them nor would I. I listen to what people have to say.

Sloan has endorsed you.

Sloan is bright and insightful. I know some people take him the wrong way. His endorsement is welcome.

You were at the last BOCC meeting (Wed, July 16) . Describe what you saw.

(her face is full of emotion)

first thing I noticed was the condescension towards members of the public. Lack of real serious questions on issues. Time spent on the hotel was a waste of time during this economy. There was no real informed debate on anything.

As you go out to campaign, what are citizens telling you they are looking for in their next county commissioner, or what is it they need.

There is tons of frustration for irresponsible spending. Lack of transparency. People feel that unless your pockets are deep, you won’t be heard. That the ordinary citizen is NOT heard.

Asked about Trailer Parks

Trailer parks should not have been rezoned because a compelling public benefit was not demonstrated. And we should determine whether taxes should be assessed according to current use, rather than the “highest and best” use.

Asked about Trauma Star

We need emergency transportation because we can’t service all the medical needs in the keys…. we just don’t have the facilities to do. But we need to find out what is the difference between Trauma Star and Life Net. Questions should be asked to find out exactly what the differences, benefits and costs are to either of these two services. The commissioners should have done this and not taken it to a referendum.

Asked about Social Services

Social services should NOT have been cut. These services provided by non-profits do their work for so little money. People rely on these much needed services.