Town Key West

Four seats on the Islamorada Village Council are up for election in November. Entering the races are eight candidates who are hoping to serve the people. Now through Election Day, the Upper Keys Weekly will ask the candidates a question on a variety of topics in the village. The Upper Keys Weekly asked the candidates: How would you assess the state of public participation in Islamorada village government? What initiatives do you believe help keep the public engaged? (Answers are printed exactly as submitted by candidates, with responses limited to 200 words). Seat 1Anna Richards We have a few regular attendees at the meetings whom participate and comment, we always wish for more attendance. I know that most of the residents that I talk to are busy working, managing their own business, volunteering with many events and have kids that are involved in multiple after school activities which make it hard to attend meetings. I speak to many residents everyday through my own business, friends and acquaintances and always encourage them to feel free to call me anytime or welcome to stop by my office during the week. I am always willing to listen to ideas, concerns and explain anything that sometimes is difficult to understand in the process of government. Islamorada provides information through weekly email updates, online access and live streaming for access to residents whom are unable to attend meetings and keep up to date. Joe Wischmeier I have attended Village Council meetings for several years. In the beginning, many residents participated because they cared about our community and believed their concerns were heard. Today, fewer residents attend because some feel decisions have already been made and their input will not matter. I understand that frustration because I speak at nearly every meeting, yet my concerns often receive no response from the Council. Recently, rules have been enacted or changed that make it more difficult for citizens to voice their opinions. Every resident deserves to know that their concerns are being taken seriously—not simply addressed during campaign season. Local government works best when residents believe their voices matter.

Sample ballots that arrived in Monroe County voters’ mailboxes last week feature three proposed amendments, or changes, to the state constitution, and only one of them — Amendment 3  — has received any attention. We’ll get to that one in a moment. Each proposed constitutional change asks voters to answer yes or no to a

Garrett Pearson, a 30-year-old Marine captain and former Virginia Commonwealth University baseball player, died during special operations training in the waters off Key West during Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) training. “We at Naval Air Station Key West extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Marine Corps Captain Garrett Pearson’s family, friends and

The Oct. 6 meeting of the Monroe County school board in Key West began with a tribute and moment of silence for John Padget who died on Sept. 22.   Padget served as Monroe County Schools Superintendent and became a powerful benefactor to Take Stock in Children. He was a driving factor behind countywide student programs

Discover the musical traditions of life at sea during the first Hoy Shanty Crew Sing-Along at the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.  The evening begins with Tony Prior of The Hoy Shanty Crew, who will share the history and origins of sea shanties, including how