Orlando Sentinel (Florida), February 20, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 Sentinel Communications Co.
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

February 20, 2005 Sunday
Correction Appended
FINAL

SECTION: SEMINOLE; SEMINOLE; SANFORD, DISTRICT 1; Pg. K1

HEADLINE: 5 CONTEST CITY SEAT AS CHANGE HEATS UP
COMMISSION CANDIDATES EXPLAIN THEIR POSITIONS ON SANFORD'S FUTURE FOR THE MARCH 8 ELECTION.

BYLINE: Robert Perez, Sentinel Staff Writer

BODY:
SANFORD -- The five candidates seeking to become Sanford's next District 1 commissioner are a diverse group.
There are longtime residents, relative newcomers, blacks, whites, professionals and one retiree. That mix reflects an area of Sanford that has seen enormous change in the past 10 years, with development of the Historic District, a new RiverWalk and a downtown business district in almost constant flux.
On March 8, voters get to help set the course for how this city develops. The mayor's job also is up for grabs.
Candidates for District 1 offer a mixed approach to the next four years. Lindsay Oyewale, a lawyer, wants new economic incentives to attract business and thinks the city needs more youth services. Incumbent Art Woodruff wants to cultivate more neighborhood involvement. Business owner Hank Dieckhaus wants to crack down on scofflaws and control growth. And Vance Taylor, a Korean War veteran, wants less government in people's lives.
A fifth candidate, Bernard Mitchell, has run a low-key campaign. He could not be reached for comment.
The district covers the city's northeast quadrant and includes downtown, the historic district, Georgetown and the Mellonville area.
"District 1 is so diverse and eclectic, it needs a commissioner who can talk to and address the needs of that group," said Oyewale, a labor, family law and criminal-defense lawyer.
Oyewale, who has lived in the city about five years, said she has been going door to door since November to talk to voters throughout the district. She said she learned that the area needs more activities for youths, especially teenagers.
The city needs programs that not only will give teenagers something to do after school, but will prepare them for college and the job market, she said.
"How to fill out a job application. How to behave in a job interview. How to behave at work once you have a job. Those are the kinds of things we need to teach our young people," she said.
In conjunction with that, Oyewale says, an economic-incentive plan should be developed to market the city and encourage businesses that accept the incentives to offer internships and job training to local youths.
She urged existing youth programs, such as those offered by the West Sanford Boys & Girls Club, to offer similar services in District 1.
Dieckhaus, who owns Blue Hen Office Furniture in Sanford, says the most important issue is controlling development, especially in District 1. Sanford is primed for growth and the city must keep a tight rein on what gets built, he said.
"The city should develop a master plan for the district," he said, adding that two previous plans commissioned by the city were never formally adopted.
For example, Gateway at Riverwalk, a seven-story condominium going up along the city's waterfront, doesn't fit in with downtown Sanford, Dieckhaus said.
Dieckhaus, who decided to move to Sanford two years ago after stumbling upon downtown, said development should emulate the city's existing charm, not create something new.
"It doesn't have to look like South Beach," he said. But he added that the current City Hall and Seminole County Courthouse downtown don't fit in, either.
City Hall should be sold and replaced by a new one that fits in with the older buildings along First Street, he said.
Although he opposed the waterfront condominium complex under construction, Dieckhaus said he wants to see more condo and town-house projects closer to downtown. But he wants to limit building height downtown and give the city some say over architectural styles.
The city also must change its mind-set for people who violate city codes. Instead of putting liens on property, the city should impose and collect fines on property owners who fail to maintain their parcels, he said.
Woodruff, who was elected in 2001, said the city is close to adopting a nuisance ordinance that would give code-enforcement workers another tool to do just that. The ordinance would allow the city to take action against properties that repeatedly violate city codes.
In his first term, Woodruff said, he helped put the city in a position to achieve greatness: The right people are running city departments, the city's fiscal policies will help boost reserves, development standards have been toughened and the city is safer.
But Woodruff wants to involve more neighborhoods in programs that reduce crime and improve the community.
"We need a formal plan to develop neighborhood groups to make every neighborhood a safe and inviting place to live," he said.
Taylor, however, says the city puts too many obstacles in the way of business and should become less involved in people's lives.
"I'd like to see business prosper in Sanford," Taylor said. "But it's always been a little difficult to get over all the hurdles to start a business. The rules and regulations are in need of some change."
Taylor, who is limiting his campaign spending to about $2,500, said he was angered that he had to pay a $450 filing fee to run. He thinks the fee should be waived for military veterans, such as himself.
"I don't think someone should have to pay $450 to run for office in Sanford or anywhere else," he said.
Taylor said the city must do a better job of relieving traffic problems, including getting rid of bottlenecks. For example, State Road 46 goes from four lanes to two at Mellonville Avenue.
Taylor doesn't approve of the First Street project, which is nearing completion. The drainage work and streetscaping converted downtown's angled parking to parallel parking. That was a mistake, Taylor said. Parallel parking will discourage some people from going downtown because it will be harder to park.
Unlike Dieckhaus, Taylor wants to keep City Hall where it is and doesn't understand why others focus on maintaining downtown's historic look.
"All buildings don't have to be old," he said.
Despite their differences, the candidates agreed on one thing: City Manager Al Grieshaber, whose contract was not renewed earlier this month, could end up getting their support to stay.
Oyewale and Dieckhaus each said they would consider a new contract for Grieshaber, whose current one ends in August. Both said they would have to review his record before making a decision.
Woodruff and Taylor said it was a mistake not to renew the contract in the first place.
Grieshaber fell out of favor with three City Commission members for his tough, no-nonsense approach and his attempts to fire former Deputy City Manager Andrew Van Gaale.



CONTACT: Robert Perez can be reached at rperez@orlandosentinel.com or 407-772-8046. Robert Perez can be reached at rperez@orlandosentinel.com or 407-772-8046.

CORRECTION-DATE: February 27, 2005

CORRECTION:
The continuation of an article on Page K11 of the Feb. 20 Seminole section about the race for Sanford City Commission District 1 reported incorrectly candidate Hank Dieckhaus' position regarding a downtown condominium project. Dieckhaus said the architectural style of Gateway at Riverwalk does not fit in with downtown but that he is not opposed to the project itself.

GRAPHIC: BOX: SANFORD CANDIDATES
CITY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 1
HANK DIECKHAUS
Age: 57
Occupation: Owns Blue Hen Office Furniture in Sanford.
Education: High school graduate; attended LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
Personal: Married, two children. Served in the Marines. Vietnam veteran.
Civic: Member, All Souls Catholic Church; former member, PTA.
Hobbies: Sightseeing, music, arts.
Key issue: "With development exploding, we need to work with developers. We have to control growth so that, when all is said and done, we have something we like."
BERNARD MITCHELL
Age: 54
Occupation: Funeral home director
Education: Not available.
Personal: Married.
Civic: Not available
Hobbies: Not available.
Key issue: Not available. Candidate could not be reached for comment.
LINDSAY OYEWALE
Age: 31
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Bachelor's degree in labor relations, Cornell University. Law degree, Florida State College of Law.
Personal: Married, two children.
Civic: Member, Seminole County NAACP, Orange County Bar Association, National Bar Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; former member, Sanford Code Enforcement Board, Orlando Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Hobbies: Travel, reading, spending time with family.
Key issue: "Because District 1 is so diverse and eclectic, we need a commissioner who can talk to and address the needs of that group."
VANCE TAYLOR
Age: 74
Occupation: Retired Navy Lt. Commander.
Education: Degree in forest management, University of Florida.
Personal: Widowed; one child. Served aboard aircraft carriers during Korea War. Disabled veteran.
Civic: Member, Disabled American Veterans, Sanford Naval Officers Association, Experimental Aircraft Association.
Hobbies: Flying, building full-scale planes.
Key issue: "It's always been a little difficult to get over all the hurdles to start a business in Sanford. The rules and regulations need to be changed."
ART WOODRUFF
Age: 42
Occupation: Physics teacher at Oviedo High School.
Education: Bachelor's degrees in journalism and chemistry, University of North Carolina. Master's degree in education, University of Central Florida.
Personal: Married; two children.
Civic: Member, First Presbyterian Church of Sanford; church elder and serves on church's Christian education committee.
Hobbies: Scuba diving, water skiing, snow skiing, boating.
Key issue: "We need a formal plan to make every neighborhood a safe and inviting place to live."
.
PHOTO: Hank Dieckhaus
PHOTO: Lindsay Oyewale
PHOTO: Vance Taylor
PHOTO: Art Woodruff