Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson is vying for her fourth term in office against political unknown Uline Daniel in the Nov. 5 general election.
Jobs, crime, development and a Brightline station are among the biggest issues facing the city.
Hudson, 80, is a Fort Pierce native and retiree from the healthcare industry with prior service on city and county boards and commissions. She said her dozen years' experience as mayor makes her most qualified to propel the city forward.
Daniel, 49, is a former teacher and current Realtor with no previous government experience. On her website , she says it's time for a change, and touts her grasp of the community’s needs as her reason for running. She has not responded to TCPalm's candidate questionnaire nor multiple requests for comment on her mayoral bid.
Hudson had raised 54 times more campaign contributions than Daniel as of Sept. 13, which doesn't necessarily predict election outcomes, but does show community support. Hudson had $30,785 in donations plus $1,000 of her own money while Daniel had $570 in donations plus $2,409 of her own money.
Daniel ran for a Fort Pierce City Commission seat in 2022, but barely got 12% of the votes cast.
Fort Pierce mayor election
When Hudson first ran for mayor in 2012, her primary issues were jobs, public safety and the economy. Today, she points to the city’s job gains, relative reduction in crime rates and increase in property values as the city grows.
“Even though people don't like to pay higher tax bills, it's a sign of more prosperity in the region,” Hudson said. “Property values have improved, and our downtown has improved and is hopping most nights.”
Hudson also points to the reduction in the city’s debt, which was around $97 million when she first took office. With less money diverted to repaying debts, more funds can be allocated to city improvements and programs, she said.
“It might not sound as sexy as other things, but I’m proud of our debt reduction,” Hudson said. “We have reduced that debt to less than half. I mean, for more than 10 years, most of our extra money went to debt payments, so I’d like to build off that.”
If re-elected, her top issues would be attracting more high-paying jobs, continuing to reduced crime and growing Fort Pierce while retaining that small-town feel, she said.
Fort Pierce crime rate
Fort Pierce has battled a reputation as a crime haven and has struggled with sporadic instances of gun violence for decades. The city has made some gains in lowering its violent crime rate since Hudson took office, but still ranks significantly higher than state and national averages.
About six out of every 1,000 Fort Pierce residents became victims of violent crimes in 2022, according to the FBI’s latest data. Fort Pierce’s violent crime rate is more than double the state average and 38% higher than the national average. The city is roughly on par with the average national property crime rate, however.
Hudson proposes various avenues to continue pushing down the violent crime rate, including firearm buybacks, public outreach campaigns and better access to mental health services.
“We’re going to work with local people trying to address the mental health issues, because we think that’s behind some of the shootings,” Hudson said.
One of her main strategies is attacking some of the root causes of crime, such as poverty and a lack of access to education.
Community solutions: Fort Pierce police address shootings, homicides
TCPalm Editorial Board: Recommendation for Fort Pierce mayor election
“One of the reasons that we have trouble with violence is some of our young people don't think there's a hope for the future,” she said. “We need to give our kids education and training so they can work in a skilled career and earn good money.”
The city has paired with various organizations such as Indian River State College, faith-based youth schools and the Boys and Girls Clubs to keep children in school and guide them toward college or trade school.
Even if Fort Pierce reverses some of the trends in violent crime, it must still contend with its negative reputation — a conversation all the more prevalent after the recent arrest of City Manager Nick Mimms , accused of bid-rigging.
Investigators said Hudson seemed to downplay Mimm’s involvement in the scandal, saying he just wanted to help the neighborhood, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report states.
Hudson said she and city staff are taking the matter seriously, including reviewing every request for proposals and instating ethics training to ensure the community can trust the process.
Brightline station
Also in the headlines is Brightline’s potential renewed interest in a Fort Pierce station after city officials in Stuart backed out of their deal , and negotiations are a major consideration for Hudson’s potential fourth term.
Hudson said she’s already proposing potential spots for a station and has reached out to Brightline through the Economic Development Council to express the city’s interest.
“We can raise our hand and say, ‘If Stuart’s done, if that's a done deal, then please come see us,’ ” she said. “Every single person I talked to in Fort Pierce has a different reason why they want it to come.”
Growth vs. overdevelopment
With more jobs, developments and a potential Brightline station bringing in people from all over the world, Fort Pierce will have to heed the calls from both supporters of growth and those who wish to preserve the city’s local charm.
This isn’t a problem unique to Fort Pierce. As about 1,200 people move to Florida each day, small towns all around the state are feeling the strain.
“The ease of living is one of the attractions here,” Hudson said. “We have to remember that the waterways and the waterfront property should be for the public.”
The next mayor will also have a list of unfinished developments to address, such as King’s Landing, Fisherman’s Wharf and Wavegarden. Much of the issues derive from getting developers and investors to the negotiating table, Hudson said.
“Fisherman’s Wharf seems to be at a stalemate with the developers right now, but I have a positive feeling about King’s Landing. Boardwalk on the Inlet seems to be moving too,” Hudson said. “I think that the national economy and the interest rates have to improve for Wavegarden to become a reality.”
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com or 772-409-1345.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce mayor election: 12-year incumbent and political unknown face off Nov. 5
Local News
