Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Betty Argue said this week that she is comfortable that the area’s informed voters will choose her during the Nov. 5 general election for Seat 4 on the ITID Board of Supervisors, but angry that parties outside the district are attempting to tip the race to challenger Natalia Milian-Torres.
“I’m feeling fine about [the election],” said Argue, who is seeking her third term. “I believe in the end, people are going to vote for the most experienced person… I’ve been here since 2011, and people know what I have fought for.”
Melian, 27, has never held public office, though she has found notoriety as a leader of the “Save Our Truckers” group that is advocating for big-rigs to be allowed to park at homes in the area’s agricultural-residential neighborhoods. Melian and her husband own a trucking business. Argue has opposed allowing such parking.
By winning, Argue said she would be defeating not only a specific challenger, but also outside forces determined to commercialize and industrialize The Acreage, and take over ITID roads for the benefit of developers.
Argue cited numerous aggressively negative mailers, social media ads and a web site funded by outside groups, such as “Building Florida’s Future,” attacking her and Seat 2 incumbent Supervisor Keith Jordano.
Building Florida’s Future is one of many political action committees (PACs) registered to William S. Jones of East Park Avenue in Tallahassee. The Friends of Sara Baxter PAC, also registered in Tallahassee, donated $1,000 to Melian’s campaign. Baxter is a Palm Beach County commissioner who lives in The Acreage.
“ITID roads should not be used to solve county problems. We should not be a doormat,” said Argue, who championed a successful lawsuit to block Minto Communities USA and the Seminole Improvement District, which provides the infrastructure for the City of Westlake, from connecting to ITID roads. Minto and SID are appealing that ruling.
Learn more about Argue’s campaign at www.facebook.com/BettyArgueITID.
IN HER OWN WORDS
Why are you running for re-election to the ITID board?
I believe the community deserves to be served by someone with no agenda but the love and respect for our community and lifestyles. I am the candidate with the experience, training and historical knowledge of the district and our community. Now is not the time for learning on the job. I have kept my word to restore the focus of the district on drainage infrastructure and roads, to always fight to preserve and protect the district and to mitigate the impacts of development. [Supervisors] have done this as economically and efficiently as possible. We need consistent leadership.
What special qualifications do you have for the office?
I have lived in and been engaged in the community with my husband and three sons since 2011. I was first elected in 2016 and have earned my certified district official and certified district manager certifications through the Florida Association of Special Districts. I have served in many leadership roles on the board of supervisors. I also serve on the board of directors for the Florida Association of Special Districts… [and] I have a background in law and real estate.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing ITID?
The biggest challenge continues to be the surrounding developments and the impact on our infrastructure, as well as improving and maintaining the district infrastructure while keeping costs as low as possible. We must move forward on building the M-1 Basin 640-acre water storage expansion to improve the drainage in the M-1 Basin.
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?
Through implementation of the mobility plan, a focus on specific vulnerable areas, and input from residents in those specific areas, we can limit cut-through traffic on our local streets, as well as create safer mobility throughout our community for vehicles, equestrians, pedestrians and bicyclists.
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 60th as it is a county road. However, it should not be built or connected at 140th until State Road 7 is connected to Northlake and [60th is] widened to four lanes. The county should work with ITID on the mobility plan design for 60th, as well as prohibit cut-through traffic off 60th onto ITID local streets.
Do you feel it is important to maintain ITID’s agricultural/residential/equestrian lifestyle? What steps would you take to do so?
Communities like ours are being pushed out of Palm Beach County, which saddens me. The majority of the people I have talked to object to the attempt to commercialize and industrialize our community. I will continue to advocate on behalf of our community and help educate the community and the county on the value of our agricultural/equestrian lifestyle.
