Bradley Bean
Candidate Fernandina Beach City Commission
Group 4
September 19, 2018 9:00 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.
Bean is seeking a seat on the Fernandina Beach City Commission, Group 4. He faces Mike Lednovich and Incumbent Roy G. Smith in the Nov 6 general election.
Bio: My name is Bradley Bean – a lifelong member of our Fernandina Beach community. I was Valedictorian of the FBHS Class of 2012, and attended the University of Florida on a National Merit Scholarship. I majored in Industrial and Systems engineering, and returned home to work as an efficiency engineer at Rayonier Advanced Materials.
At the University of Florida, I was a founder of Big Heart Gators, an organization sponsored by the Katie Caples Foundation to promote organ donation; and was inducted into Florida Blue Key, the UF leadership honor society. Since returning home, I went through the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Nassau class, and became a member of the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club. In my spare time, I enjoy coaching the FBHS Robotics Team. I am a lifetime member of Memorial United Methodist Church.
Our strength as a community is a diverse economy, and that is what enables people from all walks of life to live in our beautiful city. If elected, I will work to preserve this balance and improve our quality of life.
After completion of Fernandina”s Municipal Airport terminal and repairs to the Marina, where should the city concentrate its capital improvement projects?
We need to focus on what makes our city great. Let’s work on our parks, and continue to promote safe outdoor spaces where our kids can play, and all residents can enjoy nature and recreational activities that keep us healthy and active into our later years. Citizens have worked together to make improvements to facilities and we all have benefitted from their work at the Egans Creek park, and behind the Atlantic Recreation Center. We can improve our trails, bike paths within the city, and other recreational facilities such as the Peck Center. Our residents need options as to where we can spend time outside.
Let’s tackle parking downtown. I’ve seen plans that work through this issue in different ways, and we can find a way to fix this issue while preserving our historic integrity.
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.
Out of the options given, I would choose C. Although I see the benefit in all three options, improving and maintaining our assets is important. I’ve had the opportunity to tour many of our city facilities, and there is an opportunity for investment in maintenance and improvement before we attempt to expand.
Proper budgeting should include funding for maintenance and repairs, reserves for a rainy day, and an efficient spending plan. These are cornerstones of an effective city government.
Why did you decide to challenge an incumbent in this race?
I’m eager to serve my city and community. If the voters place their trust in me, I’m ready to get to work.