Orlando Sentinel (Florida), March 6, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 Sentinel Communications Co.
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

March 6, 2005 Sunday
FINAL

SECTION: SEMINOLE; SEMINOLE; 2005 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE SANFORD ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR, COMMISSIONER; Pg. K1


HEADLINE: CANDIDATES SEE CITY OF PROMISE, CHALLENGES

BYLINE: Robert Perez, Sentinel Staff Writer

BODY:
SANFORD -- When voters go to the polls Tuesday, they will choose a city commissioner and mayor who will help lead the city during a time of great promise.
The city's downtown renaissance, decades in the making, is finally taking hold with new businesses moving in and a seven-story condominium project being built along the city's RiverWalk. One candidate, District 1 incumbent Commissioner Art Woodruff, said the city is poised for greatness.
But the nine candidates seeking office say Sanford also faces challenges ranging from divisiveness on the City Commission to a lack of a vision for its future.
Four people want to become the city's next mayor, the elected official who has historically provided the most guidance for the city. Current Mayor Brady Lessard is not seeking re-election.
Former City Commissioner Whitey Eckstein wants to bring unity to what he sees as a divided commission.
Eckstein, a retired schoolteacher, said he plans to let each city commissioner take a turn at running meetings to give them a taste of the mayor's job. He says that will help the commission come together as a team.
Ron Fraser, an independent distributor for a nutritional supplement, wants to improve communication between elected leaders and residents. Too often, projects are formulated and carried out without public input, he said. That disrespects the community and threatens to slow positive growth and erode the quality of life, he said.
Linda Kuhn, a former chief of the Seminole-Brevard State Attorney's Office victim's services division, says the city needs a grand plan or vision to guide it. Sanford, she said, must learn to hold out for better opportunities for development and be willing to fight for what's best for the city.
Dean Ray says all things revolve around public safety. He wants more cops on the road and better equipment for the city's Fire Department.
Five candidates -- Hank Dieckhaus, Bernard Mitchell, Lindsay Oyewale, Vance Taylor and Woodruff -- want to become the next commissioner from District 1, which covers northeast Sanford and includes downtown and the historic district.
Downtown business owner Dieckhaus wants better planning and stricter enforcement of city codes. New development in downtown Sanford should reflect its charm and historic architecture, he said.
Mitchell, a funeral home director, says crime remains the biggest issue in the district. Although criminal activity has dropped in the area, drug sales, prostitution and gambling remain. The city must give police the tools and training they need to excel , he said.
Lawyer Oyewale said residents want and need more activity for youths, especially teenagers. The city, she said, should craft an economic incentive plan that lures jobs and business, and require businesses that receive incentives to offer youth programs such as internships and job training.
Taylor, a retired Navy lieutenant commander, says there should be less government in people's lives. The city puts up too many obstacles for business and doesn't focus enough on issues such as roads, he said.
Woodruff, a high school physics teacher seeking a second four-year term, said development standards were improved during his first term and that he was instrumental in numerous programs that cut crime, eased flooding and built more sidewalks. He envisions doing more work to reduce crime and improve neighborhoods during a second term.
Four polls will be opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
District 1 -- Sanford Civic Center, 401 E. Seminole Blvd.
District 2 -- Westside Recreation Center, 919 S. Persimmon Ave.
District 3 -- First Church of the Nazarene, 2581 Sanford Ave.
District 4 -- Seminole County Health Department, 400 W. Airport Blvd.
Early voting will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the Elections Supervisor's office, 1500 E. Airport Blvd.



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

GRAPHIC: BOX: SANFORD CITY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES
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, embalmer.
Education: Associate of science degree in mortuary science.
Personal: Married, six children.
Civic: Chairman of Sanford's Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee; immediate past district governor for the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; former member, Sanford Code Enforcement Board, Cemetery Advisory Board, Georgetown Master Plan Committee, post office relocation committee; member, St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church.
Hobbies: Cooking.
Key issue: "We continue to have a lot of prostitution, gambling and drugs in the district. We must work with the police department to provide them the tools, training and personnel they need to be a better organization."
LINDSAY OYEWALE
Age: 31
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Bachelor's degree in labor relations, Cornell University. Law degree, Florida State University College of Law.
Personal: Married, two children.
Civic: Member, Seminole County NAACP, Orange County Bar Association, National Bar Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; 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 lieutenant commander.
Education: Degree in forest management, University of Florida.
Personal: Widowed; one child. Served aboard aircraft carriers during Korean 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: Bernard Mitchell
PHOTO: Lindsay Oyewale
PHOTO: Vance Taylor
PHOTO: Art Woodruff
PHOTO: Herbert 'Whitey' Eckstein
PHOTO: Ron Fraser
PHOTO: Linda Kuhn
PHOTO: Dean Ray
BOX: BOX: SANFORD MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Herbert `Whitey' Eckstein
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired schoolteacher.
Education: Bachelor of arts in education, University of Florida.
Personal: Wife, Pat; five children. Community service: Sanford city commissioner for 16 years.
Interests: Fishing, spending time with grandchildren.
Key issue: "The polarization of this city has gotten to a point where I don't know if the city manager can do his job."
Ron Fraser
Age: 51
Occupation: Independent distributor for Reliv International, a nutritional supplement.
Education: Bachelor of science in management, Southern Illinois University College of Business.
Personal: Single.
Community service: Vice chairman, Sanford Waterfront Master Plan Steering Committee; member, Optimist Club of Sanford (lieutenant governor, North Florida District of Optimist International; 1999 Sanford Optimist of the year).
Interests: Flying, scuba diving, boating, photography.
Key issue: "There has been a lot of turmoil in Sanford and the biggest reason is the lack of communication between the people and the city."
Linda Kuhn
Age: 55
Occupation: Retired chief of the Seminole-Brevard State Attorney's Office victim services division; certified law-enforcement officer.
Education: Graduate, Seminole High School; attended Austin Peay State University.
Personal: Husband, Robert Kuhn; two children.
Community service: Former member, Sanford Historic Trust Board, Civil Service Board and Seminole County Victim's Rights Coalition Board.
Interests: Gardening, boating, water sports, reading.
Key issue: "We need a grand plan for the city. If we had a good plan, the people would know what is being proposed and we would not have so much divisiveness."
Dean Ray
Age: 45
Occupation: Owns Ray's Appliance.
Education: High school diploma.
Personal: Wife, Janet; eight children.
Community service: Member, Sanford Citizens on Patrol, Sanford Police Citizens Advisory Board, Sanford Nuisance Abatement Board; vice president, Northeast Democratic Club; member, Seminole County Democratic Executive Committee.
Interests: Fishing, coaching softball.
Key issue: "Safety is always the top priority."