Natalia Melian-Torres said that the plight of big-rig truckers, like her husband, got her interested in politics, but she is far from a one-issue candidate.
“The parks are horrible… traffic is unbearable… improvements are needed in drainage… [and] the milled roads in the district are quickly deteriorating,” she said this week, enumerating some of the issues she believes need to be tackled by the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.
Melian faces two-term incumbent Betty Argue in the Nov. 5 general election race for Seat 4.
“I’ve been knocking on a lot of doors, and using my contacts base, which is pretty large,” she said. “I’ve been putting up a lot of door-hangers.”
Melian, 27, said she is eager to dispel the notions that she is too new to The Acreage and too young for the job.
“I’ve lived here since 2018, but I’ve had family in the area for 20 years, so I became familiar with The Acreage through visiting them,” she said.
And as far as age and experience are concerned, she said, “I’ve been working since I was 14… [Now] I’m responsible for the entire operation of the trucking business [she owns with her husband] from dispatching to payroll, accounting, permits, insurance, maintenance, breakdowns and repairs, just to name a few.”
Melian’s campaign received a $2,500 contribution from the Republican Party of Palm Beach County and $1,000 from Friends of Sara Baxter, a Tallahassee-based political action committee (PAC).
Baxter is a Palm Beach County commissioner who lives in The Acreage and has been a strong supporter of Melian’s work supporting truckers. Melian was a founder of the area’s “Save Our Truckers” group. Argue has opposed allowing semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles to park at their owner’s homes in The Acreage.
Melian said she was happy to accept the donation from Baxter’s PAC but that it does not make her beholden to the commissioner, a longtime foe of Argue.
“I’m running because the supervisors aren’t listening to the people,” said Melian, “including me.”
IN HER OWN WORDS
Why are you running for the ITID board?
After attending meetings over the last few years, I realized I needed to get involved to make a change. The residents need to be heard, and it is the board’s responsibility to do what is in the best interest of the residents and for the needs of the district. Many of the current board members have lost sight of what the community wants and have pushed forward with their own agendas. I’ve also seen lots of opportunities to limit and control [ITID] expenses, which will reduce taxes. Controlling ITID spending will be a priority if I am elected.
What special qualifications do you have for the office?
I have been actively involved in the community, attending meetings over the last several years and have supported small businesses in our area. As a small business owner, I am familiar with budgeting and controlling expenses.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing ITID?
There are several challenges at this time, which are all created by the influx of new developments surrounding us and the impact this has on our traffic, roads and drainage. We are also at risk for annexation by the surrounding cities. We need to keep them from encroaching on this area to protect our rural way of life.
With the influx of new development, how would you protect the residents from significant increases for road maintenance and safety concerns caused by cut-through traffic?
Our taxes have already increased more than 60 percent in the last four years without any new benefits. As a board, we need to take time to listen to our residents and research challenges and suggestions that can reduce costs. We need to assess the results and costs of projects, like the road millings, to ensure we are doing what is best for the district and residents.
Do you support building, paving and expanding 60th Street North as a thoroughfare road from Seminole Pratt Whitney Road to State Road 7?
I do support expanding, extending and improving 60th Street. This road will be vital in providing traffic relief to Orange Blvd. and our private interior roads. However, I think it is important to ensure that this does not eliminate a problem for one section of the district and create the same problem for another. It is important to work with the county to prioritize which roads are built first.
Do you feel it is important to maintain Indian Trail’s agricultural/residential/equestrian lifestyle? What steps would you take to do so?
Absolutely, I strongly believe in the need to maintain our rural lifestyle. That is the reason why most people moved out here. I will make sure that we do not give developers free rein to take our land and destroy our way of life.
