Candidate City Commission, Group 3
Press Release
Orlando Avila
Phone: 904-955-3122
[email protected]
August 21, 2017 3:00 p.m.
Fernandina Beach business owner and community volunteer, Orlando Avila, has announced a campaign to seek election to the Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 3.
Avila, who is running for the seat being vacated by Mayor Robin Lentz, who is not running for reelection, said his platform consists of three major issues:
- Ensuring that future and current businesses in Fernandina Beach are offered opportunities to become established and thrive in a manner that is productive to both the city, the entrepreneur and local employees.
- Protecting and securing property rights with sensible regulatory policies to prevent conscientious business people and their capital from fleeing the island for more attractive environments elsewhere.
- Working toward a speedy resolution to the downtown waterfront and the marina issues that have plagued the city for so many years.
Avila has been a resident of Nassau County for 16 years, and for the past three has lived in Fernandina Beach with his Fernandina Beach High School teacher wife, Janel, and their four children.
Explaining his approach to politics, Avila says elected officials too often lose sight of the fact that the money they are spending does not belong them, but to local residents. “We enjoy an amazing quality of life in Fernandina Beach and my objective is to will work to protect that wonderful quality of life and preserve all the things that make our community an attractive place to live, play and work, and to do so economically,” he adds.
“Communities prosper when they provide a climate that encourages its citizens — often in cooperation with local government — to discover and adopt better ways of doing things. With that in mind I’d like to see a review of our current ordinances to eliminate redundant, outdated and conflicting ones,” he explained. “For example, government should not be a hurdle in the way of private property owners who want to improve their assets, but instead work with them, while ensuring that the end result is beneficial to all interested parties.
“The Fernandina Beach Commission should also to everything it can to support the engine of our local economy, the small businessperson, particularly when it comes to permitting and reviewing the controversial impact or capacity fees and finding solutions to affordable housing for a work force of first responders, hospitality workers, and teachers, among others.
I have a vested interest in ensuring we create and maintain an environment that is in all of our best interests because my wife and I have four children we want to grow up here to appreciate the same quality of life we do.”
Avila owns All American Ship Agents, LLC a nearly 5year-old Fernandina Beach firm that specializes in commercial vessel logistics.
Avila is active in the community as a graduate of Leadership Nassau Class 8, past President of the Nassau County Foster Parent Association, as well as the local Shriners and Masonic Lodge. Mr. Avila also serves as the vice president of the Florida State Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. Mr. Avila and his wife are former foster parents having adopted 4 children over the course of the last 8 years. Mr. Avila graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration from The University of Central Florida and an MBA in International Business from Columbia Southern University.
He has asked people interest in volunteering with his campaign to contact him at 904/955-3122 or by email at [email protected].
Editor’s Note: Orlando Avila will face challengers Medardo Monzon and Chip Ross in the Group 3 race for Fernandina Beach City Commissioner. Mayor Robin Lentz now serving in Group 3, will not be seeking reelection. .
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