Recommendations from the TCPalm Editorial Board: St. Lucie County Commission

TERM: Four years

CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT 3: Linda Bartz, 73, and Erin Lowry, 48

CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT 5: Cathy Townsend, 62, and Audra Macon (Republicans); Fritz Masson Alexandre and Cliff Barnes (Democrats)

ISSUES: Growth and development, quality of life, public safety, budgets

There are two elections on the August 20 ballot for the St. Lucie County Commission.

In District 3Lowry is challenging incumbent President Bartz in a Republican primary to determine who will take office. The winner will face a write-in candidate in November, whose name will not appear on the ballot.

In District 5Townsend, the incumbent, is being challenged by Macon in the GOP primary. Barnes, a former commissioner and county judge, faces token opposition from Alexandre, a candidate who runs in seemingly every election cycle despite putting little effort into his campaigns. The winners of the primary will face off in November.

Difficult to draw contrasts in District 3

There wasn’t much contrast between Bartz and Lowry in our interview with the editorial board. While Lowry said there needs to be a change in who holds the office, she didn’t offer a compelling explanation as to why.

Lowry vaguely suggested that St. Lucie County is experiencing too much growth and development. While that seems like a reasonable argument to make in an election campaign, especially as a challenger, Lowry showed no mastery of the subject or much she would do differently if elected.

Overall, Lowry seemed uninformed about the issues facing county government. Although she has been involved in several civic groups, that does not seem to have prepared her for the kind of work she would do as county commissioner.

During the interview, Lowry often agreed with Bartz’s answers, which is often difficult for a challenger trying to advocate for change.

Bartz also offered some troubling answers, particularly regarding the possibility that the commission will soon change an innovative part of its comprehensive plan. The plan is intended to cluster development in urban centers while preserving the rural space around them.

Bartz appeared open to changes, including one that would allow uniform residential neighborhoods to be built in the northern part of the county, provided at least one commercial development would take place that would serve as a substitute for a true town center.

It seems that there must be a better solution, if land use changes are to be made at all, than completely gutting a plan that many people in the community worked hard on almost two decades ago.

Unfortunately, Lowry did not appear to have many new ideas and did not inspire confidence that she could be an independent voice to take on the powerful development interests that hold sway in St. Lucie County.

Neither does Bartz, but she at least has more institutional knowledge of what’s going on in county government, giving her a slight edge over Lowry in this race.

TCPalm Editorial Board Interviews Candidate for St. Lucie County Commission District 5

The TCPalm Editorial Board interviews Republican candidate Cathy Townsend in a pre-recorded video for St. Lucie County Commission District 5, Thursday, July 18, 2024.

What is Macon’s agenda in District 5?

In District 5Townsend attended an interview with our board, while Macon, her competitor, did not.

If Macon had run, she might have faced questions about the political support she received from Anthony “Tony” DiFrancesco, his family and related companies.

According to county records, Anthony and Michael DiFrancesco each contributed $1,000 to Macon’s campaign. Tri-County Cattle Co. and DiFrancesco Construction, two of the family’s businesses, each contributed $1,000.

Macon has loaned her campaign $4,000, according to county records. The DiFrancesco donations alone account for nearly half of the $10,850 she has reportedly raised from outside sources so far.

If the name DiFrancesco sounds familiar, it may be because Anthony DiFrancesco hosted a local political fundraiser last year for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ then-active presidential campaign. He and other family members subsequently donated more than $100,000 to DeSantis and affiliated political action committees just days before DeSantis appointed Keith Pearson as interim sheriff of St. Lucie County.

DiFrancesco has also donated generously to Pearson’s campaign for sheriff. Jamie Fowler, one of DiFrancesco’s employees at Tri-County Towing, was elected to the commission two years ago.

What is the DiFrancesco family’s connection to Macon? An interview with the candidate might have shed some light on that.

Townsend and Barnes face little opposition

Townsend, for her part, is well-versed in both the county’s current operations and its future plans. Like Bartz, she is part of the majority of the commission that has approved numerous development projects in the county.

Townsend, however, at least showed some moderation by voting against Indrio Woods, an apartment complex planned next to the historic home of Crayon inventor and Fort Pierce philanthropist Edwin Binney.

Especially given the uncertainty surrounding Macon’s agenda, Townsend is a better choice for the Republican primary.

Our board has not interviewed the two Democratic candidates (Alexandre has declined previous invitations to meet with us), but believes that Barnes’ record in government makes him an obvious choice over a candidate who runs for any seat without showing any real commitment to the job.

TCPalm’s candidate recommendations are determined collectively by the editorial board. Recommendations are based on non-partisan criteria that prioritize the best candidates for our local community.