Submitted by Mike Lednovich
[email protected], 714-398-9824
April 26, 2018 5:00 p.m.
I live in paradise, a city called Fernandina Beach.
I know, because on a cool January morning I drove 95 miles north on AIA starting at Palm Coast in search of a community for my wife Shari and I to call home.
I’m running for City Commissioner because yes, we live in paradise, but paradise doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We are continually being challenged to preserve and maintain what sets Fernandina Beach apart from other coastal communities. These challenges require a proactive mindset in place of just reacting to our changing circumstances. I am running for City Commissioner Group 4 because the challenging, policy decisions made by the next Fernandina Beach City Commission could alter the city we all cherish and wish to preserve.
To meet these challenges, as your City Commissioner, I pledge to:
* Provide a city government that is responsive and accountable to its citizens.
* Protect our beaches, parks and open spaces because Amelia Island’s natural beauty is the reason we live here.
* Preserve the historic downtown, businesses, and the neighborhoods of our unique beach town.
* Enact conservation site design practices that plan and budget for the conservation and protection of trees and open space as a requirement of the development process.
* Restore the marina and adjoining waterfront, the jewel of downtown, where currently 60% of the marina is unusable and no fuel for purchase is available. Also, to clean up the shoreline along N. Front St. which remains a trash dump of neglected buildings, smashed pilings and dilapidated piers.
I am running because I know I can make a difference:
- As a corporate executive of a mid-sized media company, I chaired the Corporate Leadership Committee that was instrumental in growing the company from $500 million to just under $1 billion in value.
- Prior to my executive management work, I was an award-winning journalist. I’ve covered both city governments and Port Everglades. I understand the challenges governments face and how their operations work.
As your future City Commissioner, I pledge to first listen to my constituents; to understand their concerns. I pledge to make decisions based on information, not feelings. In addition, I will fight to keep city government transparent and accountable, and to move the City toward the elimination of financial waste and inefficiency.
I appreciate your support in preserving the special place we call home.
About Mike Lednovich: Mike Lednovich is a former award winning journalist at the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and Orange County (Ca.) Register. He was an executive at Freedom Communications, Inc., a national media company of newspapers, television broadcast stations and magazines for 10 years. He became a business performance consultant in 2001, with stints as the President of the Make-A-Wish Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter and as CEO of a $40 million construction company that built schools, courthouses and public works projects. Lednovich Business Consulting is based in Fernandina Beach. Mike and his wife Shari, reside in the Parkway North community of the city.
Editor’s Note: Mike Lednovich will face incumbent Roy G. Smith in the Group 4 race. Individuals interested in running for election have until July 15, 2018 to qualify. At this time, incumbent Vice Mayor Len Kreger Group 5 has no opposition.
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