My fellow residents of Royal Palm Beach, I once again have a question to pose to you. It’s a question that will have an impact on the future of this community in which we live. The question is: who do you want representing you on our village council? Is it an individual who takes a rational, analytic approach to the issues that come before the council, who does the homework, who is willing to compromise in order to get agreement in resolving controversy? Or is it an individual who knows little about the workings of our village, who has not done her homework and has stated that she would learn on the job. Based on her performance at the candidates’ debate sponsored by the Town-Crier, she has a lot of learning to do.
My fellow residents, the answer to this question is very simple. The only person who can do the job as Seat 1 council member is the one currently doing a tremendous job: Jeff Hmara. Jeff does the homework, comes to meetings well prepared to offer solutions, is willing to compromise when appropriate for the good of the community and brings a sense of dignity appropriate for a representative of the people. He is not a politician, he is a public servant who takes his responsibility very seriously.
Jeff’s higher education and diverse professional background give him the knowledge and understanding of the people he represents. He’s a graduate of the Citadel and FIT. He is a retired army colonel who served in Vietnam. He has held positions at several government agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. He currently holds the position of adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
These academic and professional accomplishments prepared Jeff to be an active and contributing member of our council from the day he was first elected four years ago. He had done his homework and knew what Royal Palm Beach was all about and what improvements could bring it to a higher level. Under his watch, our village continued to have a balanced budget without raising taxes, opened Commons Park and the new dog park, brought Aldi here, sold the Crestwood properly, and corrected the FEMA flood maps, saving many of us the cost of flood insurance.
These are just a few of Jeff’s accomplishments on our behalf; there are numerous others, all of which demonstrate his dedication to doing the right thing for us. Jeff has received numerous endorsements from individuals and groups who recognize his vast service to the community.
Thus, the only rational conclusion that we should come to is to also lend our endorsement by voting for Jeff Hmara to retain Seat 1 on our village council. We need to have his intelligence, compassion and willingness to serve us in the same dedicated manner that he has done during the past four years. We hope you will join us in reelecting this exceptional person. Vote on March 15 for Jeff Hmara!
Arlene and Alan Olinsky, Royal Palm Beach
