Three candidates are running for the District 4 Martin County Commission seat in the August 18 Primary Election. John Dial, Sarah Heard, and John Kaz Kazanjian qualified for the race.
Dial identified over-development as the most serious issue facing Martin County, citing Senate Bill 180, SB102, and new mandates from Tallahassee that remove power from local voters and leaders. He said he would go to Tallahassee as often as necessary to represent local control and push to restore the county's ability to make decisions. Dial also opposed using taxpayer money to fund Brightline, calling it a private company that is not U.S.-owned, carries roughly $2 billion in debt, and is reportedly losing more than $220 million a year. He said he would be open to a train station if a private rail company wanted to invest its own capital, or a fair market land lease at the fairgrounds provided the property would revert to the county if the company fails.
Heard said the legislature is taking decision-making out of the Board's hands and only essential services like the Sheriff and Fire Rescue can be funded with ad valorem taxes. She said even if funding only public safety, the county would not be able to fund it by the third year. Heard said she is in favor of a train station downtown but would consider the fairgrounds location if the majority of residents overwhelmingly favors it. She said she does not want to see data centers in unincorporated Martin County because they are not allowed uses on agricultural lands, and a comprehensive plan amendment would have to be approved to change the future land use, which she would oppose.
Both Dial and Heard addressed a potential referendum on raising the Homestead exemption and cutting ad valorem property tax income. Dial said he would protect essential services first including fire protection, law enforcement, waste management, and education while reviewing non-essential programs and discretionary spending for reductions. He also suggested exploring ways to turn costly county assets like Sailfish Splash, the golf course, and the cafe on the beach into revenue-producing opportunities by leasing them to private operators.
On the Business Development Board's annual $450,000 funding, which District 1 Commissioner Eileen Vargas opposed on June 23, Dial said he supports the BDB in its current role but that every use of taxpayer dollars must be examined carefully if spending cuts are forced. Heard agreed that the BDB is too dependent on government funding.