One of the towns residents sent out a questionaire to the candidates she could find. Some do not use social media and have no or little personal contact information available in relation to this election. We all recieved the same questions, good questions. I wanted to post mine to help you learn more about me.

 

 

 

Hi Kim. Not sure if you saw my response to your questions. It got buried in the post. You can always contact the town and ask for emails of the other candidates that are not available on facebook to ask the same questions

 

· What inspired you to run for Town Council?

 

 

I became aware that we need more effort placed on educating the residents in relation to our town’s events and inner workings.

 

 

· What are the biggest challenges facing our town, and how will you address them?

 

 

I feel our biggest challenge is preparing our town for future development. Equally as important is to evaluate our current infrastructure and address the concerns of maintenance and repair. I suggest we begin to immediately seek expert advice on how to deal with the laws and regulations in place so we know what to do before it comes to the table, not look for band-aids after. We need to be proactive!

 

 

· What in your background has prepared you to serve on the Town Council? Please give specific examples.

 

 

I spent approximately 25 years in Davie, Florida before moving here. Davie was Grant Valkaria when I first moved in. I watched it turn into another suburb of Fort Lauderdale. I went to meetings, asked questions. Saw many unhappy residents who had no voice. Money won. I want to do what I can to help Grant-Valkaria keep this lifestyle alive. If you sit back and complain without helping, then bad things happen. I truly feel I can help.

 

 

· Why should residents trust you to advocate for their interests and responsibly steward the town?

 

 

I have recent history of action, not just promises of what I will do (video taping meetings, meeting with elected officials on issues affecting our town). I hold no other administrative governing positions that might be a conflict of interest when making decision for our town. Look at what I have done over the last year. Listen to my message; does it fit in with your goals too? I have no ties to the construction, land development, real estate industry so I feel I can make decision without conflict of interest, related to development.

 

 

· How do you stay informed about current events and issues affecting the town?

 

 

I attend meetings. I use social media, responsibly. It is a great tool and to not use it in 2026 is a severe handicap. Without use of online information you can’t consider yourself to be an informed person. Yes, there is a lot of nonsense around, but you need to learn how to apply filters. I meet with other elected officials. I stop into local businesses for input, I make it a point to meet neighbors, especially those who have been here a long, long time. I learn town history on subjects of interest.

 

 

· How many Town Council meetings and special workshops have you attended over the last year?

 

 

All but one. I was out of town during the holidays. I have video recorded all of the town meetings since January 2026, and posted them online for all to view, comments blocked!

 

 

· How will you engage residents and solicit their input?

 

 

I would like to continue the sessions we are using now during our campaigns. Set up one on one meetings to stay current on concerns. Encourage residents to attend the meetings if they are able; if not, watch them online. I hand out cards. My phone number, email, and website are on my cards, so I can always be contacted. I don’t recall anything like that from the others currently in position? Maybe so, I just never found it? A few candidates are providing direct contact info, but I am sure more will now since I mentioned it.

 

 

· How will you respond to public criticism?

 

 

I will always attempt to make my decisions based on the majority of the resident’s desire. There might be times where you are not able to act as the people want because of circumstances beyond control, legal, ethical responsibilities. That’s where the power of information comes into play. Being able to explain the reason, in understandable language, often gives reasonable people a sense of closure why things occur. I accept there will always be unreasonable people that will require extra effort to explain, and hopefully accept reason.

 

 

· Where do you live in town? Is it part of an HOA, and why did you choose to live there?

 

 

I am on Brabrook Ave. in the southern part of town. I am not in an H.O.A. I spent 25 years living in an H.O.A. I left that lifestyle to be here. I am not ever interested in living in an H.O.A. again and those who live in an H.O.A. might not want me as a neighbor either. Not against them, I did it, it is just not for me. I have friends and family who live in them. They are very nice and many love it. It no longer fits my lifestyle. I like the rural property, country setting with as much freedom as possible.

 

 

· What obligations could cause you to miss Council meetings or workshops?

 

 

I have no other administrative obligations that would interfere. I am retired and foresee no reasons to miss meetings, as long as my truck starts.

 

 

· What is one thing the Town Council got wrong within the last year?

 

 

The current council did not take action to install video broadcasting in town hall so that the residents who are unable to make the meetings can be informed. We have a senior population who might not be able to drive, a professional population who work, and families who have extra-curricular activities that might prevent them from attending meetings.

 

Paid for by Ronald Mallet for Town Council

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