Running For: Jupiter Mayor (Three Year Term)
Running Against: Jim Kuretski
Tell Us a Little About Yourself. What Inspired You to Run for Office in Jupiter?
I am 37 years old, I was born in Hollywood, FL. My family moved to Jupiter when I was 8 months old, and I have been living here ever since. I married my wife Magen who is also from Jupiter in 2014, we have two boys together, Merrick (6) and Carson (4). We enjoy all things Jupiter, especially boating, fishing, and going to the beach! I am a firefighter/paramedic with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and have worked as a firefighter for 12 years. Living here my whole life, I started to notice some changes in types of building and increases in traffic, and I wanted to learn more about what types of projects and infrastructure were being approved. When I realized that development was being approved that didn’t fit the Jupiter lifestyle we all came to love, I decided to run for council in 2020.
What Do You Love Most About Jupiter, and What’s One Thing You’d Like to Improve?
I love that even though we have a population of 61,000+ residents, it still manages to feel like a small town. I love being able to have access to the waterways and beaches without having to pay for parking. I think the most important thing we need to work on is addressing traffic concerns and carefully considering any development projects that don’t add height and density to our town.
Describe Your Leadership Style in Three Words
Attentive, Engaged, Approachable
What Experience or Skills Make You the Best Candidate for This Role?
As a firefighter, the main mission is to serve the public, help them, and be a problem solver. I feel like all of those traits make me the best candidate for Mayor.
What Is Your Top Priority for the Town If Elected, and How Do You Plan to Accomplish It?
I have promised to add term limits to our town charter, require any expenditures over $10 million to go to a referendum vote of the residents, and work hard to preserve green space, specifically Suni-Sands.
How Do You Plan to Keep Jupiter’s Small-Town Charm While Supporting Responsible Growth?
Jupiter is well built out. If there are any projects that are slated for development or re-development, they should be done in a way that harnesses Jupiter’s small-town feel. This means no high rises, more open-air-style buildings, all while ensuring any project is a traffic mitigator.
What’s One Local Issue That Residents Talk to You About the Most, and What’s Your Stance on It?
Traffic is always top of mind for residents. We need to work closely with our partners at the state and county level to address roadways that are congested and find alternative routing to busy areas such as the Jupiter commerce park—i.e., extending Island Way south into the commerce park to reduce congestion on the western part of Indiantown Road.
If You Had to Explain Your Vision for Jupiter in a Single Sentence, What Would It Be?
Preserving the way of life that everyone moved here for, stayed here for, and making thoughtful decisions with the residents, not just for them.
How Do You Plan to Engage and Communicate With Residents?
I am very engaged on social media, which is the best form of communication. I always tell people to call me with any concerns so they can be addressed immediately. In the last 5 years, I have always strived to be the most accessible council member to help our community.
What’s a Fun Fact About You That People Might Not Know?
It’s kind of silly, but I picked up an Australian accent while working with some friends at a country club when I was younger, and using that accent, I worked at Busch Gardens in college as an Australian safari guide.
