REPUBLICAN Gazette by Republicans, for Republicans
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UPPER KEYS REPUBLICAN Gazette By Republicans, For Republicans Vol. 1, No. 3 www.keysgop.com/upper-keys August 2020 Primary races August 18 - please vote! CANDIDATES INSIDE The Upper Keys Republican Club is 250 words. The article submissions pleased to present our third edition of are unedited for content. The Upper the Upper Keys Republican Gazette. Keys Republican Club does not This third edition is a continuation of endorse candidates in primary races. our Candidates Series leading into BACHELER, pg. 3 BELL-THOMPSON, p. 3 the Primary elections. In this edition, No candidate was excluded by the we asked Candidates to tell us why Upper Keys Republican Club. they are running in approximately MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION DAVIS, pg. 3 FORSTER, pg. 2 DISTRICT ONE I was born and raised in Key West. I understand the reasons we live in the Keys and I understand our economy. My wife Cheryl and I have been married for over 48 years. We raised three daughters here HAMMOND, pg. 6 HASKINS, pg. 5 and our granddaughter is growing up here. We spend our time supporting numerous local non-profit organizations, actively serving on many boards throughout Key West and the Keys. We truly enjoy our community and diligently support all the good work that LAVIN, pg. 3 MAJESKA, pg. 2 Craig Cates goes on here. I started and owned several businesses in the Keys, and I understand the difficulties business owners face every day. As Mayor, I had an open-door policy. I focused on the city’s budget and keeping our community affordable for its residents while balancing quality of life with our thriving tourism industry. I worked diligently to keep taxes MARTINEZ, pg. 2 ROSSI, pg. 5 low and as a former businessman was instrumental in bringing the city’s taxes to a rate lower than unincorporated Monroe County. The preservation of our rich Keys history is a priority for me because I understand that our history guides and molds our future and is something of great value. I bring 9 years of governmental experience to the County Commission with Continued on pg. 2 SCHEU, pg. 6 ZETTWOCH, pg. 4 Articles in this publication reflect the opinion of the author and do not constitute the position of the UKRC or the Republican party of Monroe County. We encourage all members to provide content. Submit your article of up to 500 words to UKRC to ukrc@keysgop. com for edit and inclusion in the newsletter. Each article should be structured to promote and demonstrate Republican principles. UPPER KEYS REPUBLICAN Gazette Page 2 MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT THREE DISTRICT FIVE Eddie Martinez In spite of multiple requests, for information to include in this publication, no response was Mike Forster Robbie Majeska received from the candidate nor his campaign. Mike Forster is considered by many I moved here in 1998 to raise in our community a friend but more my family in a community where importantly family. His passion to everyone knew your name. I did not Cates serve goes beyond the endeavors want to raise my children in Miami Continued from pg. 1 of feeding those in need during a where no one even knows their fiscal responsibility as my priority. time of crisis, it is the driving force neighbor. I am proud to say I made I understand that government works behind his desire to be an elected the right decision, with my daughter for the citizens, and I will work to official. graduating from Stetson University improve all our services. Forster has served as an and now working on her Master’s I am asking for your vote so we Islamorada Village Councilman at Florida Atlantic University and can continue to work together to for 12 years over the course of five my son currently attending Florida Keep the Keys Moving Forward. elected terms, including time as the State University. I believe my Council’s Mayor and Vice Mayor. family flourished in our community. He also served on the Chamber I have been very involved in of Commerce Board of Directors my children’s schools, and very and has spoken before the Senate involved in our community. I have Appropriations Committee to been a Boy Scout Leader and my fight for the environmental and business has sponsored many financial needs of Monroe County Little League Teams, supported the and the surrounding area. As a Wild Bird Center, Marr-Velous Pet community official, Forster has Rescue, Key Largo Wild Kingdom spent years cultivating relationships Program, Coral Shores High School Monthly Meeting with key members of state and Marine Biology and others. federal governments. Whether For the past 8 years I have Key Largo Civic Club it’s protecting the environment, been elected and served on the or via Zoom promoting the sports fishing capital KLWTD Board and I am proud l of the world or championing of the work I have done there and AUGUST 26, 2020 Continued on pg. 3 Continued on pg. 4 UPPER KEYS REPUBLICAN Gazette Page 3 ISLAMORADA VILLAGE COUNCIL SEAT ONE SEAT THREE Jenny Bell-Thompson Ms. Bell-Thompson was contacted for inclusion in this publication, but Pete Bacheler Frank Lavin declined to participate. I’m Pete Bacheler, and I’m Frank has immersed himself in SEAT FOUR running for Village Council Seat the Islamorada community for 1. I came to the Keys 35 years many years. He is an Islamorada ago and created a private land-use Chamber of Commerce member planning company to assist the and has participated in numerous public in maneuvering through luncheons and after-hours events the maze of applications involved to engage with business owners with building and zoning issues. In and discuss ways of improving our conjunction with this, I also manage community. Additionally, for the a small commercial apartment past two years, Frank has attended office complex on Plantation Key all Village Council meetings and at MM89.2B. My partners in the budget workshops. One of the most Ken Davis property are in Miami. I am a part- important issues is the budget of our Mr. Davis was contacted for owner of a commercial apartment/ Village. inclusion in this publication, but office building on Plantation Key, Professionally, Frank has managed declined to participate. where I reside. projects worth millions of dollars. I’m an active member and past As a small business owner, he president of the Upper Keys Rotary understands budgeting and spending Forster Club, a graduate of Leadership money in an efficient manner. As a Continued from pg. 2 Monroe County and a past board council member, Frank will ensure children’s initiatives, Forster is an member of LMC. I have served on your tax dollars are spent wisely active leader committed to exacting many committees and boards within and a percentage be placed in a fund change for the better. the Village, and I have been the for future emergencies. He believes in Monroe County, and chair of the Village Land Planning Frank has always looked for ways he’s asking you to believe in him. Agency (LPA) for the past six to give back to the communities he Vote for Mike Forster as the next years and a proud member of the has called home. In 1988, Frank was District 5 County Commissioner, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce. a founder of the Jackson Heights and give him the chance to continue Continued on pg. 4 Continued on pg. 7 changing lives! UPPER KEYS REPUBLICAN Gazette Page 4 ISLAMODA VILLAGE COUNCIL Majeska Continued from pg. 2 SEAT FIVE the accomplishments achieved with our visits to Tallahassee and Larry Zettwoch, also known Washington D.C. As a Monroe as “Larry Z,” built his home in County Commissioner my goal Islamorada in 1987. He served his is tackling issues such as: traffic, country and community for over 40 canal restoration, building permits, years including 32 years in the Air government spending, unfunded Force, and now as an Islamorada state mandates, land takings, and volunteer Firefighter/Paramedic. taxes. I want to see our money Larry began diving at Plantation being spent wisely. I am not going Yacht Harbor in the 1980’s. As to vote on issues because that is he taught others to dive, he began how “things have been done.” I volunteering with the Islamorada will vote in a manner that will Library, then the Islamorada Moose, help the community and our local now serving on both boards. Larry businesses. Larry Zettwoch also teaches CPR classes monthly. Quality of Life is My #1 Priority. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Masters of Arts and Teaching, and a Law Degree. During this time, he taught elementary school, flew with the Kentucky Air Guard, and in 1978 was hired by Bacheler Piedmont Airlines, finally retiring from American Airlines in 2012. Continued from pg. 3 In Larry words: “I’m interested in Islamorada Council Seat 5 because I have been an adjunct instructor I wish to continue preserving the uniqueness of our Village, be a good at The College of the Florida Keys steward of the Florida Keys waters and use common sense in decision for the past 20 years. making on the Council. “As a commanding officer and captain, I’m used I’m not here to change things to working with a team and facilitating the decision making process to “For the better” I’m running to achieve a common goal. Those same skills will be used to work with maintain our sense of community fellow council members as we improve the health, safety and enjoyment and small-town atmosphere of this community.” while respecting property rights.