Sarasota County Commission District 1: Mark Pienkos

Name: Mark Pienkos

Age: 70

Family: Married 48 years to Ann. Three children: Michelle, Karen, Stephen. Two grandchildren.

Bio:

Born in Chicago; earned my bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in school guidance and counseling from Northern Illinois University. Later, earned the equivalent of a second master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a specialist certificate in administrative leadership. I then earned my doctorate in education from the University of Southern California.

Enjoyed a very successful 45-year career in education working as a teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, principal and school district superintendent. 

Always active in our community, church and children’s schools, as well as local, state and national politics. 

Elected twice as alderman in the city of Muskego, Wisc. Later appointed to the Police and Fire Commission in Lake Geneva, Wisc., where I served as president for three of my five-year term.

Professionally, served as president of the 1,000-member Wisconsin School Counselors Association and Midwest vice president for the 23,000-member American School Counselor Association. Active in several Polish American organizations. Currently serve as the national vice president for public relations for the Polish American Congress. In 2015, the president of Poland honored me with the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit for my efforts to bring greater understanding between the U.S. and Poland. My wife, Ann, and I are also active members in the Polish-American Association of Sarasota. We attend St. Jude Catholic Church, where I am a fourth degree knight of Columbus.

Recently elected as a board member for The Meadows MCA. The Meadows has 7,000 residents. I am also a Precinct Captain in The Meadows (121).

Ann and I serve as spring training event staff for the Baltimore Orioles. My first book about the Chicago White Sox was published by a local publishing company, Peppertree Press, in downtown Sarasota.

Ann and I recently celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary. 

Why are you running for office?

I seek office to represent you — the voters in Sarasota County, District 1, not as a steppingstone to further a political career. I have already had a successful career. I ask voters to elect me as your Sarasota County commissioner to make a difference today and in the future. Listening and acting on behalf of all the people in Sarasota County — especially District 1 — is essential to solve the many issues confronting our county. You must be listened to — not special interests. Our environment equals our economy. We must protect it. "Keep the Country … Country" must be the rallying cry throughout Sarasota County. Let's work together to preserve our precious resources, open lands and water, while dealing with overbuilding and increased traffic congestion. Historic Old Miakka, Celery Fields and our world-renowned beaches must be protected. Listening to people and bringing people together has been a hallmark of my career. One clear example of this not being done was the gerrymandering decision made by the County Commission last November. This was wrong and was done for political reasons. As your county commissioner, that will not happen.   

What are three policy priorities you hope to accomplish if elected?

1. As a fiscal conservative, I will use the skills learned as a school superintendent to be a watchdog for your precious tax dollars. The $1.3 billion county budget will be severely tested as a result of COVID-19. The pain so many people have felt as they have lost businesses or jobs cannot be ignored. The county must work with businesses and individuals to help rebuild their lives. There must be a sense of urgency in providing federal dollars through the CARES Act to needy people. 
2. Our local economy relies on the hospitality and tourism industry. People come to the Suncoast to live either permanently or seasonally to enjoy our beaches, arts and cultural venues, golf, spring training baseball, bird watching, our natural recreational areas, etc. We must protect these treasures. An estimated 1,000 people relocate to Florida each day. They come for a variety of reasons. But our environment cannot be overlooked as the main reason. We must work together to protect our environment because it fuels our economy. 
3. Once elected, over the next four years, I pledge to work tirelessly to bring people together to work on issues of mutual concern to protect our environment while also making Sarasota County a mecca for smart growth that attracts sustainable energy businesses. Sarasota County can be a leader in this area. I will do this by holding periodic town hall listening sessions. What better way to build a better future than by listening to the ideas and suggestions of the residents of District 1? In other words, rather than having to go to the mountain to speak your mind, how about the mountain coming to you via town halls in your area?

What role should the county play in helping increase the amount of workforce, affordable housing? What’s your position on allowing developers to increase density if they build and sell a certain percentage of units at below-market rates?

Affordable housing for our workforce continues to be an issue that must be confronted. Due to a recent change in state law, Sarasota County can only require affordable housing if it gives the developer something in return which compensates for any lost profit, such as increased density. That is how the county's current affordable housing incentives are structured, which I support. This includes the current Sarasota 2050 Plan for rural lands. It grants a developer a density increase from one unit per 5 acre to five units per acre, and more, if 15% of its units are sold or rented at rates that are generally defined as affordable, as well as other public interest tradeoffs are followed. I disagree with my opponent, who supports giving away that density without any affordable housing in return — perhaps granting only a sixth unit per acre in some affordable housing is provided. Developers don't need or want that sixth unit. So if my opponent has his way, there will no longer be any affordable housing in Sarasota 2050 developments. I ask you, the voters in Sarasota County: "How does this help the need for housing for teachers, first responders, hospitality workers and others on a limited income whom we depend on?" 

Representatives of the Bay Park Conservancy appear to want to create a tax-increment financing district surrounding the park to help fund the park’s improvements. What’s your position on that?

Everyone needs to pay close attention to this issue, including me as your new county commissioner in District 1. As a fiscal conservative, I am always wary of estimates for long-term projects. For example, the improvements on the 53-acre Bay Park Project are estimated to be between $250 million and $500 million. This includes many amenities, as well as a new performing arts center and a parking garage. We need to ask whether this is the right time to commit taxpayer dollars for such a facility. Some might see my stance on being prudent fiscally ironic because I am a Democrat, but as indicated previously, I am a fiscal conservative. 

If the city decides to develop a new performing arts center in Bay Park, what would be your position if the city asks the county to help fund it with tax dollars?

This is a great opportunity for voters to weigh in on this project. I would be for a countywide referendum to allow voters a chance to vote on this important issue. As mentioned earlier, COVID-19 has cast a cloud as to where our economy will be for the near future. Let's slow down the process that is presently moving quickly to create a tax increment financing district. Let voters get their say.

According to the county’s preliminary budget, SCAT, the county’s bus service, generates $85,700 a year in “user charges,” while the entire SCAT system costs $31 million a year to operate. What’s your view of SCAT?

Government has a legitimate role in providing transportation to those unable to transport themselves for any number of reasons. However, this must be done in a financially responsible manner. Is it responsible for the county to run large busses with only a few or no riders? How about smaller vehicles transporting riders? Unfortunately, the county appears to be moving in the direction of privately owned pickup services at the taxpayer's expense. We must investigate our entire mass-transit system in Sarasota County to decide how best to get the job done at the least cost to taxpayers. Let's stop wasting millions of tax dollars each year.

In what areas of county government spending do you think the county could cut expenses without hurting services?

Let's start with impact fees. New development should have 100% impact fees charged. It is improper to charge low impact fees at the front end of a home being built only to have all taxpayers flipping the bill for needed roads, sewer and water, and public services, as well as other amenities later. Zero-based budgeting is another method to curb increased spending. One way to get a better view of spending needs and priorities is to gather the wisdom of our business leaders and others within the community to get their views on how to streamline county spending. Being a watchdog over duplication, as well as discretionary spending, is important. The COVID-19 crisis demands we become better stewards of our financial resources.

What should the county’s transportation priorities look like in the next 10 years?

We are behind in needed road improvements. As roads become even more congested and dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike, we are building roads that are adding to urban sprawl, especially east of Interstate 75, unfortunately at taxpayer's expense because impact fees are not generating enough revenue. Why? To open more lands for development — at a higher cost to taxpayers. We can't allow developments to overwhelm our traffic grid. Plus, it will add to pollution, stress and our quality of life. We need county commissioners who listen to the needs of their constituents. Let's make sensible decisions now — and for the future. 

Red tide and water quality were huge issues in 2018, resulting in a countywide summit on the topic. What as a county should be done moving forward on that environmental issue?

As indicated earlier, just as we need a sense of urgency in getting federal CARES Act dollars out to small businesses and workers needing assistance due to the pandemic, the red tide issue cannot be ignored. Our tourism industry and other related businesses cannot take another hit because of a lack of urgency to deal with red tide. Let us bring together the best minds on fighting red tide. By this I mean experts — scientists at Mote, as well as other individuals, nonprofits, educators and business people who can work together to develop a long-range plan to reduce and hopefully eliminate red tide from our pristine beaches. Residents and visitors will benefit from the efforts expended on this frontal attack on red tide.