MEET THE CANDIDATES

SEAT 4 – JOE VILLANELLA

Joe Villanella
46 Jana Drive
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

Phone Number: 
386.788.4617

Email Address:
rightman@joev22.com

Website:
joev22.com

My personal story: 

Married to my beloved wife Diana, we are the parents of one daughter and one son. I am a ‘Car-Guy’ having owned 300+ cars in my life.  My family used to say my pacifier as an infant was the steering wheel.  We have been blessed with four wonderful.  grandchildren.  I attended college in New York and majored in Business Administration, with Business Law and Psychology. 

My professional career: 

I enjoyed a long and successful career with a public, multinational Office Products Corporation. During my long tenure with the company, I managed a $37,000,000 and almost 300 employees.   

I also had a personal interest in wealth building and real estate, so I became a licensed Realtor agent in New Jersey for 27 years, primarily in residential property transactions. I learned a great deal about residential building processes, methods, materials, sourcing, financing, and partnerships. 

Transforming Seagull Landing: 

In 2006, I was persuaded by several owners to run for a seat on our Homeowners Association (HOA) Board of Directors. At our first meeting I was selected to be President of the Sea Gull Landing HOA, a position I held for 13 years. I am still involved with the HOA and provide advice and assistance as needed, in the role of President Emeritus. 

Joining Code Enforcement: 

Out of a desire to become more involved with the future of our community, I joined the Code Enforcement Board sometime in 2010.  I was voted to Chair the Board in 2011. 

Representing our residents outside Ponce Inlet: 

I was appointed to represent Ponce Inlet on the River To Sea Transportation Planning Organization in 2015, and have continued on the Citizens Advisory Committee. 

I am active in my church: 

I have been involved with Epiphany Catholic Church in Port Orange. I volunteer and serve on several ministries in our Parish and have chaired several of them.  Working with other volunteers and salaried employees, along with the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, we were able to implement positive changes. We increased our funding to the Outreach Ministries we serve. I remain active in our daily, Sunday, and special services in various ministries within Epiphany. 

My passion for Ponce Inlet: 

When I first came to Ponce Inlet, it was love at first sight for me.  We are so fortunate to live in this hamlet town, with a great climate, surrounded by pristine waters, and residents who share  common goals of peace, tranquility and personal safety while living the good and simple life by the sea. 


PONCE INLET CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 2022
JOE VILLANELLA – SEAT 4

Why are you running for Town Council? How would you describe the responsibilities of a Town Council member? What skills and leadership qualities do you bring to the table that would make you the better candidate for this position?

Our residents expect and deserve Councilmembers who will adhere to a set of core fundamental principles.  Among them are following the charter, acting in the best interests of our community (as opposed to themselves), respecting our visioning statement, properly preparing for meetings and engaging respectfully with the Town Manager and their fellow Councilmembers. 

For over 11 years, I have served as the Chairman of the Ponce Inlet Code Enforcement Board.  As the Mayor chairs our Council meetings, it is my job to chair the Code Enforcement proceedings.  I work at the intersection of where our residents, businesses and property owners interact with our Town Government.  I see every Code Enforcement hearing as an opportunity to learn what is important to all the concerned parties.  I have always worked toward implementing solutions that consider the unique circumstances of each case.  I believe my experience at this level of Town Government has prepared me well for a seat on Council. 

My opponent claims to be “The Voice of the People” but a check of his voting record reveals that he consistently votes to suppress resident input.  He cast the only Council vote against the upcoming August 3rd Town Hall.  He cast the only vote against allowing our residents to speak at the end of Council meetings.  He also cast the only vote against the Essential Services Board, a body which was specifically created to give our residents a voice and a seat at the table on Public Safety issues.  His campaign slogan is “Let’s Communicate” but his actions on Council are the polar opposite.   

A Councilmember’s ability to work collaboratively with others is important as well.  My opponent referred to his fellow Councilmembers as a “Kangaroo Court” on the public record. 

Residents and visitors love and appreciate Ponce Inlet for its small-town charm and beauty. What can be done to preserve our community’s character while proactively addressing our needs and enhancing our quality of life?

In the entire history of our Town, this question has never been more relevant. 

More people are living in and visiting Ponce Inlet than ever before.  With overcrowding becoming a concern throughout Volusia County, we must be careful to ensure that our community does not follow a similar path.  The answer to this question can be found in the balancing of interests amongst all the concerned parties. 

Our businesses and property owners have rights afforded them within their deeds as well as our codes and ordinances.  At the same time, our residents have the expectation that Council will adhere to the Town’s Visioning Statement which sets forth that “Ponce Inlet is and will be a residential haven for those persons who value nature, quiet, privacy”.  (A direct quote.)  

More than ever before, we need Councilmembers who are extremely well versed in our Land Use and Development Codes (LUDC).  When these codes are applied too strictly, the rights of our business and property owners can be infringed.  When they are applied too liberally, we could run into conflict with our visioning statement.   

I am also very concerned with the fact that my opponent accepted campaign money from a commercial developer with a large, pending project in Town.  Councilmembers are supposed to represent the residents, not special interests.  The donation was cloaked under the name of an LLC, which is not what many would consider to be in keeping with his claims about “transparency”. 

Protecting and preserving the Ponce Inlet we love will not be accomplished with words, slogans or catch-phrases.  It will require Councilmembers who know how to apply the LUDC on a case-by-case basis.  The impact of any development must take into consideration the additional loads on our infrastructure and essential services.   

The final outcomes of the Ponce Inlet Resiliency sessions conducted over the past few years have been presented and reviewed at Town Council meetings. What should our long-term strategy be to address these issues?

If you look at my website (www.joeV22.com) I listed resiliency at the top of the list of my 21 campaign platform topics.  If we fail to act on this one important item, everything else we are working on will get washed away (literally.) 

Surrounded on 3 sides by water and at an average of 9FT above sea level, Ponce Inlet is extremely vulnerable to the hazards of storm surge and catastrophic flooding.  I often raise the comparison of Port St. Joe Florida, a coastal town of similar size and population which was devastated by Hurricane Michael in October of 2018.   

With an annual budget of approximately $7 million, there is simply not enough funding for us to tackle this enormous problem entirely on our own.  Our strategy must consist of a two-pronged approach.  Adopting resilient building techniques, materials and methods are very important, but not enough to achieve our goal.  We are going to need a great deal of financial help.  Fortunately, there is good news on that aspect. 

As divided as our government in Washington DC is, flooding has emerged as a truly bipartisan issue.  It is not difficult to convince legislators that it will cost less to fortify our existing infrastructure than to replace it.  Grant money for resilient projects is beginning to flow, but you need to know how to access it. 

If elected, I would strongly support retaining grant writers who specialize in this area.  Money has been earmarked to help municipalities like Ponce Inlet, but we will need help to access it.  There are a number of prerequisites and formalities.  Let’s get that process started as soon as possible.  The fees that these grant writers charge are a very small percentage of the inflow of funds we can receive for qualified projects.  Let’s get going.  

Our Council members are often asked to represent Ponce Inlet interests at the County and State levels. Are you willing to assume those roles and additional responsibilities? If so, why would you be a better representative of our community than your opponent?

For starters, you need to show up. 

In November of 2020, my opponent was appointed as your representative on the River-To-Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).  In what can only be described as a gross dereliction of his duties, he failed to show up for more than half of the meetings he was assigned to cover.   

During the period of time he was supposed to be participating at TPO meetings and advocating for our residents, a consulting firm retained by the County recommended that Votran Service along Route #17A (Ponce Inlet) be discontinued.  He never voiced any objection to the TPO and never brought the matter back to Council.  Fortunately for our residents, then Vice Mayor Lois Paritsky was alerted to the issue and placed it on the October 2021 Agenda as Item #13C.  At the October 21,2021 Council meeting, my opponent stated on the record that we “need to fight this tooth and nail”.  Three days later, he quit the TPO.  A copy of his resignation letter is posted on my website.  He stated that he had “other obligations that interfere”.  Is quitting his idea of fighting “tooth and nail”? 

Our interlocal relationships (County, State) are so critical for our residents.  My opponent, by his own choice, is the only Councilmember that has no interlocal assignments or responsibilities.  We can’t even trust him to show up at meetings, pay attention to the proceedings, speak up for us and bring back important items that could adversely impact us. 

I currently sit on the TPO Citizens Action Committee.  I enjoy participating in these meetings and learning about important issues that impact our community.  If elected to Council, I give you my solemn promise that I will show up and speak up (loudly) whenever any policy adverse to your interests is proposed. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1 – Citizens for Ponce Inlet (CFPI)
Page 2 – Candidates Forum, Ponce Inlet Election 2022
Page 3 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 2 – Bill Milano
Page 4 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 4 – David Israel
Page 5 – Meet the Candidates – Seat 4 – Joe Villanella

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