In St. Johns and Flagler, environmental policy is imperative. When developers pave over wetlands and unregulated growth outpaces infrastructure, we pay for it through  flooding, higher insurance, traffic, and rising utility rates. Clean water and resilient drainage are essential, and we should not have to pay more for it. Protect fishing, and outdoor recreation areas for future generations.

We live beside incredible natural resources like amazing beaches, beautiful state parks, with wetlands and waterways connected to Moses Creek and the Matanzas watershed and Pellicer Creek. These protect homes from flooding and they help keep our water clean, and support eco-tourism and local small businesses.. Once our wetlands are damaged or destroyed, they’re both hard and expensive to replace. It’s MUCH easier to address the problem now, rather than later when homes are flooding because they were built on land that used to absorb stormwater naturally.

That’s why it matters to plan growth responsibly before problems become crises. St. Augustine is pursuing flood-mitigation work around Lake Maria Sanchez because heavy rain and high tides can push water into surrounding neighborhoods. It’s far cheaper, and far smarter to protect wetlands and require real stormwater planning upfront than to “fix it later” after homes are already flooding.

Wetlands are infrastructure. They absorb stormwater, reduce flooding, protect water quality, and strengthen coastal resilience. I will support policies that protect wetlands and require meaningful safeguards when development is proposed near flood-prone areas.

Growth should not be approved on promises. I will push for stronger requirements that water, wastewater, stormwater, roads, and evacuation capacity are in place before major projects move forward. Developers must pay their fair share for the impacts they create, instead of shifting costs onto existing residents.

Both counties face real water challenges. Aaging systems, capacity needs, and growing costs. I will fight for transparent planning and responsible investment so we stop paying the “emergency repair” premium and start building systems that are reliable, resilient, and affordable over the long term.

Local communities should be able to plan growth based on science, infrastructure reality, and public input. We can’t have Tallahassee override local standards. I will support restoring local zoning and planning authority, so St. Johns and Flagler can protect wetlands, manage flood risk, and set responsible growth standards. In St. Johns and Flagler, we’ve seen what happens when growth outpaces planning. Residents get stuck with flooding, drainage failures, and quality of life problems which needed to have been prevented up front. I support infrastructure to be in place before overdevelopment. This ensures homeowners aren’t left paying to fix preventable problems later.

I will support practical, measurable resilience solutions including green infrastructure, improved drainage, and projects that reduce flood risk.

A safer, more affordable region where:

• Wetlands and waterways are protected because they protect us
• Water systems are reliable and rates are kept as reasonable as possible
• Flood risk is reduced, which helps stabilize insurance costs
• Local voters, not Tallahassee, must have a real voice in how our communities grow