OPENING STATEMENT

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My name is Jeff Rose and I’ve served as the Vice Mayor of Surfside for the past two years. My wife and I moved here over 10 years ago because we knew it was an amazing place to raise our boys, who are 5 and 7.

Over the last 2 years, I’ve either put forward or supported some of the following initiatives: 

·  Renovated the Tot Lot park

·  Beach chair service, seaweed clean-up, & litter patrol

·  Installed exercise equipment throughout town

·  Oversight of new 96th Street park and kayak launch, 

·  Digitizing online permitting and utility payments, 

·  Community aides to cut down on double parking downtown

·  Initiated a new sports complex, including tennis center, rooftop pickleball, residents’ gym, and programming space

·  Hired and promoted a very involved, knowledgeable, and devoted Town Manager; 

·  Created legislation limiting smoke shops

·  Supported Pride month and raising the pride flag annually

·  Lowered the millage rate on property taxes

·  Funded the purchase of backup storm pumps

·  Provided financial support to Ruth K Broad K-8 school for a library renovation, an on-campus nurse, and cooking class

·  Implemented employee union to protect town employees and ensure fair market pay

·  Mandated that residents retain storm water on their own property 

I’m sharing these few items that we’ve accomplished to show that we were effective in our work and I will continue to be. 

I would like to spend the next 2 years working on some of the following initiatives: 

·  Oversight of undergrounding and master stormwater plan 

·  More walkable streets

·  New high school for Surfside and neighboring coastal cities

·  Oversight of the design, timing, and budget for the Champlain memorial site

·  Work with condo owners on obtaining financing to ensure compliance with new condo safety laws

I think it is also important to know what I will not do if I am elected:

·  I will not let tourism taxpayer money waste away in an account – I will always push for new ideas to make our town more fun, inclusive, and enjoyable for our residents

·  I will not put on a front, vote, or posture up here just to be popular or liked. I am not making decisions for media attention. I do not have a political agenda or a higher office to seek out. I do not care if people like me or not for the choices I make so long as I have done my research, talked to residents, and talked to people with most knowledge before making the best decision that will benefit ALL of the town, not the few loudest residents.

Tonight, when listening to each candidate, I would ask that you keep an open mind and consider:

1.  Which of these candidates really understands the issues enough to discuss and vote intelligently on them?

2.  Which of the candidates back up accusations that they make with actual proof?

3.  If you hear something tonight that’s important to you but that you have not seen proof of or do not have first-hand knowledge of, please ask for it. Please do your research. Not everything is as it seems. 

4.  Lastly, whether the candidates are being true to their beliefs or just presenting a false sense of togetherness just so they can get elected? 

Thank you.