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NEW CKPOTTERY 2019
 
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WANT TO KNOW YOUR
CITY COMMISSIONERS BETTER?
 
TINA RYAN - OR - BRYAN SKARUPSKI?
SCOTT DENNISON - OR - ROYCE NELSON?
 
CKNews OFFERS HELP
 
The Cedar Key City Commission has two open seats that will be voted upon on Election Day, May 6, 2014.  In the interest of a more informed public, the Cedar Key News will provide two services to you, the reader.
 
One service is the Candidate Forum where you will be able to join your fellow residents in asking the candidates pertinent questions regarding the city’s operation.  Mark your calendar and come to the Candidate Forum on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at 6pm, at the Cedar Key Library upstairs meeting room.
 
Another service is the candidates’ written responses to three questions which you may read here on the News for the next three days, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 15, 16, 17, 2014. 
 
Below you will find the answers to the first question:
 
What experience and expertise can you bring to the commissioner
position to make the city more effective for the taxpaying citizen?
 
Tina Ryan, Incumbent - Seat 3
Response to Question 1
 

As the previous owner of a property management company in South Florida I have extensive experience with budgeting and cash flow for over $20M dollars in yearly revenue generated for the condo & homeowner associations I managed.  My staff of about 30 people handled preventive maintenance and day-to-day repairs of over 1,000 buildings, thousands of acres of landscaping and provided customer service for over 6,500 individual units.  A major component of our work was dealing with engineers and contractors along with various municipalities and the state for compliance with building codes and ordinances.   Our hurricane season of 2005 resulted in many millions of dollars in insurance claims and almost 3 years of reconstruction.   The types of communities I managed are basically mini-governments that operated much like our City.  I also worked with the major commercial developer for the  development of Boca Raton, Florida in the 1980’s and worked with the Vice President of Construction and Development for all construction contract budgeting and payments.  I believe that my experience in facilities maintenance, office procedure, budgeting and finance benefits the City and our citizens.

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Bryan Skarupski - Challenger - Seat 3
Response to Question 1
 
My wife Darlene and I have lived in Cedar Key since 2003. We own a house, The Market, and the Big Deck Bar and Grill. Before moving to Cedar Key I was employed in the Food Distribution industry. I was a General Manager with full responsibilities of a 160,000 sq. facility with 375 customers, 85+ employees, and $110 million in annual sales and a $9 million dollar operating budget. I believe with my background and owning two businesses in Cedar Key uniquely qualifies me for serving as a Commissioner of Cedar Key.
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Scott Dennison  - Incumbent - Seat 2
Response to Question 1
 
I am grateful to have been voted by our citizens to serve Cedar Key as Commissioner for 6 years. I have learned about our services and been honored to accept responsibility for our City’s budget and serving as our Emergency Management representative. Working with other City Commissioners and City staff, I have reduced our ongoing expenses and secured grants to improve our City infrastructure. Property taxes have dropped from a high of $788,000 before I was elected to $643,000. The annual $80,000+ City Utility Tax was eliminated during my service while still ensuring City services were delivered.
I have been very fortunate in my career to have worked with experts in both government service and private enterprise. My 40+ years of helping public agencies and private corporations implement new IT systems has allowed me to improve processes and create effective cost saving results. The delivery of City services could be more effective with improved systems that reduce the costs to provide them. I have, at my own expense, participated in multiple educational classes and conferences provided by Florida Cities & Counties, APWA (Public Works), NIGP (Purchasing), and FGOA (CFOs).

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Royce Nelson  - Challenger - Seat 2
Response to Question 1
 
My career has included experience in small business, corporate business and private businesses that I have owned, where there were days that I was the only employee.  My business experiences provide a resource that will help me with decision making and leadership responsibilities, benefitting the City of Cedar Key.  Cedar Key is such a unique and special place that I feel these qualities need to be preserved.  To most effectively facilitate this, the Commission should be multidimensional, resourceful and steered away from unachievable goals.  As a City Commissioner I would focus on a controlled and guided plan of action for the City of Cedar Key.

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Look for answers to question #2 tomorrow

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