Main issues in IRC Commission District 5 primary include growth, development

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY − Management of development and growth appear to be among the top issues in the Aug. 20 Republican primary for the District 5 County Commission seat.

Laura Moss, a two-term Vero Beach City Council member, is running for re-election to a second county commission term, while Tracey Zudans leaves a Vero Beach City Council seat in vying for the county commission position.

The winner of the primary will face a write-in candidate in the Nov. 5 general election.

“What I hear from the community is in sync with my own thoughts and observations, and that is, we need to be very careful, exercise great caution with regard to development,” said Moss, 71, of Vero Beach. “I think you manage growth by protecting what you have.”

Messages left with Zudans, 53, of Vero Beach, in mid-July were not returned.

In responses to an earlier candidate questionnaire for TCPalm, Zudans reported her main priority “would be to develop the agenda for graceful growth by anticipating the needs of our infrastructure, public safety, density, and urban service boundaries while completely overhauling the building department.”

Moss said properly managed growth is key.

“It’s directly related to sense of community,” she said. “It's how people interact, how people relate to each other, how people feel about themselves and their home, and that's becoming increasingly important.”

Zudans, who has served as a fiscally conservative member of the hospital district board, stated she believes “less is more.”

“Government should focus on a limited number of things like police, fire, courts of law, and public infrastructure,” she stated. “Everything that the private sector and our citizens can do better than government should be left in the private sector with minimal taxes and regulation.”

Moss touted her experience, which includes two terms on Vero Beach City Council where she proved instrumental several years ago in breaking a years-long block to sell the city’s electric operation to Florida Power & Light Co.

“They thought that was never going to happen, and I came in and did it within a year,” Moss said. “You always have to have the ability to negotiate ... It's a business deal and both sides need to walk away with something.”

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 5

Position: County Commissioner

Term: Four years

Salary: $79,843

Who can vote: Indian River County registered Republican voters

Next steps: The winner on Aug. 20 will face a write-in candidate in the Nov. 5 general election.

Laura Moss, incumbent

Age: 71

Profession: current Indian River County commissioner

Time in office: One term on Indian River County Commission; two terms on Vero Beach City Council

Tracey Zudans

Age: 53

Profession: Vero Beach City Council; Marketing Consultant; Indian River County Hospital District Trustee

Time in office: One term on Vero Beach City Council

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com .

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Main issues in IRC Commission District 5 primary include growth, development