In advance of the Aug. 26 primary election, the Town-Crier invited the three candidates seeking Seat 3 on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors — incumbent Ralph Bair and challengers Alan Ballweg and David Bradley — to submit brief statements on their qualifications.
If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote on Aug. 26, the top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election, where two other ITID board seats will also be on the ballot.
RALPH BAIR
I am the only candidate who has the experience and is not a single-issue candidate. I will take The Acreage into the next decade as it deals with growth management.
My wife and I have lived in The Acreage for 35 years, where we raised both of our daughters. Now, we are blessed with five grandchildren.
I am the only candidate who has consistently supported State Road 7 to connect directly to Northlake Blvd. so it bypasses the traffic currently driven through the heart of our community.
I have always supported our park system, including the southern expansion of Acreage Community Park with field lights and believe it’s important for our youth. My grandchildren remind me constantly the importance of youth programs as we enjoy watching them play sports. The addition of the dog park is also important to me. I believe it will contribute to the socialization of both adults and dogs in our community. I promise to improve park safety as our community grows and expands.
While I have been in office, we have kept the budget balanced through the recent recession by being fiscally responsible and maintaining healthy reserves needed for an emergency. Tropical Storm Isaac is a good example. We were able to make the repairs necessary immediately with reserve money that was later completely refunded by FEMA.
I believe my best quality is that I’m a good listener. I’m concerned about all Acreage residents and try to make myself available to each resident and listen to their concerns. Being a good listener also allows me to oppose overdevelopment while I exchange ideas in the best interest of our community. I also utilize this skill when it comes to negotiating with our surrounding agencies for better drainage for The Acreage, including supporting the new berm at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area.
The Acreage is my priority. When I retire from the Palm Beach County School District, I intend to stay in The Acreage as my permanent residence, as it is the community that I both love and desire to continue to represent.
ALAN BALLWEG
I am grateful for the opportunity to write why I believe I am the best candidate for the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.
Values: I belive honest government starts at the top. Ethics should be part of every governmental decision and action, which is one reason why I support the Inspector General. I believe the Acreage/Loxahatchee area is unique, and that we live in a beautiful area with a high quality of life. This needs to be protected and preserved. I am a patient and long-term thinker, and carefully consider the future effects of every action.
Qualifications: My education and experience is an almost perfect fit for the ITID board. I graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics and engineering management, and have been working professionally as an engineer. This gives me knowledge of finance, accounting, cost/benefit analysis, and an extensive technical knowledge of drainage and flood control systems. I will be able to help make The Acreage a better place while saving the taxpayers money.
Dedication: Since Tropical Storm Isaac, I have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to our community, by working hard on important issues such as flood prevention and overdevelopment. I have met with all of the county commissioners, all the division heads at the South Florida Water Management District and the executive director, most of the mayors in our area, and dozens of one-on-one meetings with many other top decision makers, including the county’s top engineers. I have also attended and participated in every ITID regular meeting for the past two years, and I have spoken at the Board of County Commissioners meetings dozens of times on issues related to ITID.
Significant progress has been made on flood prevention in part through my work. If elected, I will have a greater ability to effect positive change and to serve the residents. For these reasons, I hope for your vote on Aug. 26.
DAVID BRADLEY
At the inner core of every fireman is a desire to want to help people in need; we are the light on some peoples’ darkest days. Holding an elected position, in my mind, is not that different. People put their trust in their elected officials to do the right thing on their behalf. So, what makes me the best candidate for this office? My drive to want to help people, to protect people and to do the right thing on their behalf.
Do I have the educational background or experience like the other candidates? Not in the least, nor do I boast to have such. But I do not think that experience or education immediately makes someone a good candidate. Character, compassion, heart, generosity, selflessness, humility, reason and honesty; these are the qualities most valuable to an elected official, and these are the qualities most lacking in politics today.
I do not claim to know everything there is to know regarding being on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors. However, by utilizing the qualities I listed, I know that I can do the job required of me and more. I refuse to become complacent, and I will never stop learning. My wife and I are expecting our first child in the early part of next year; therefore, my perspective and priorities have begun to shift toward my child’s future and the future of the community that he will grow up in and around.
I grew up in this community, and one of my main goals is to ensure that my child’s future is similar to, if not better, than the one that was afforded to me. These things are what make me the best candidate for this position.
ABOVE: Ralph Bair, Alan Ballweg and David Bradley.
****I am the only candidate who has the experience and is not a single-issue candidate.**** I believe my best quality is that I’m a good listener.****
I have never spoken a word against any other candidate for seat 3…however for Mr. Bair to say the above in the statement means he is not listening to his opponents. I don’t see either one has a “single-issue candidate”. Especially Alan Ballweg. He has addressed drainage and growth, and has much knowledge of all angles of traffic/road situations that effect our area. . What is “single-issue” about that?
And as far as experience….an education and career in engineering, as well as MUCH time spent working with SFWMD on drainage issues doesn’t count because it wasn’t spent in an ITID chair?