City Commission Group 4 Candidate Smith answers questions

Roy G. Smith
Incumbent Candidate Fernandina Beach City Commission
Group 4
September 19, 2018 11:00 a.m.


Editor’s Note: Every year the Fernandina Observer presents questions to candidates in order to help our readers be informed voters. We have disabled the ability to offer comments on this post. Thank you candidates for responding to our request and for running for office.

Smith is seeking reelection  on the Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 4. He faces Bradley Bean and Mike Lednovich in the Nov 6 general election.

Candidate Roy G. Smith

Bio: Born in Hollywood, Fl
Upper Manager in road, bridge and infrastructure construction for 45 years
Became a resident and property owner in Fernandina Beach in 2013
Served on the Historic District Council before election to City Commission in 2015
My wife and I have five children, five grandchildren and four dogs
I can be contacted at 904-556-0951 or [email protected]

After completion of Fernandina”s Municipal Airport terminal and repairs to the Marina, where should the city concentrate its capital improvement projects?

I strongly believe that we must concentrate on repairing, updating and rebuilding our infrastructure. When I was a candidate in 2015 this was part of my platform.
We have made good strides in storm drainage, but much remains to be done. Our city streets are in a state of disrepair and must be improved. City buildings need
rehabilitation or replacement. The city sewer plant needs to be storm hardened and protected from flooding. Infrastructure is an important asset of the city and
therefore must be maintained and updated.

Which of the following 3 city projects would have your highest priority, if elected to the City Commission? How would you pay for it?
(A) Improving the Amelia Riverfront and adding a waterfront park;
(B)Purchasing land for conservation;
(C) Rehabilitating or replacing aging city facilities such as firehouses, or recreational facilities.

It is obvious from my answer to question one that my highest priority is rehabilitating and/or replacing city facilities and infrastructure. Both fire stations are in need of replacement. The Atlantic Recreation Center is old and needs major rehabilitation or replacement. Our other recreation centers need updating. City Hall is old, has structural problems and is inadequate to house the departments it should contain. We are in discussions with the Federal Government to obtain the downtown post office. This much larger building will enable us to consolidate many departments under one roof while also providing a larger commission chamber. Paymentfor the above listed items can be obtained through a combination of grants, sale of the existing city hall property, long term financing and the sale of bonds.

What was the hardest vote you had to make during your term? Why?

I looked back over my voting history throughout my term and decided I did not have votes that were harder than others. I treated votes on issues both small and large
using the same procedures. When I ran for office in 2015, I stated I would research all issues, use sound reasoning, communicate with the citizens and vote for what
I believed was best for the city and it’s residents. I stand by my statement and have no regrets on my voting history.