Flagler Beach, FL – Adding a new spin to connecting with the community, Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley hosted the first “Meet the Candidates Roaming City Cleanup” on Sunday, February 7th.
With opportunities to meet and greet constituents limited during the pandemic, Cooley created the weekly meet ups as way to safely engage with members of the Flagler Beach community while learning more about their concerns and ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.
Starting the meet up at the Flagler Beach Pier, Cooley, who is running for re-election to the Flagler Beach City Commission on March 2nd, opened up the event to all candidates in Flagler Beach, and was joined by partner and mayoral candidate Suzie Johnston.
Residents stopped to talk under the pier’s A-frame before the candidates and friends embarked on their first roving cleanup event. Teams tackled the east and west side of State Road A1A during the Friends of A1A’s first quarter Adopt-a-Highway commitment.
The roving cleanups are part of a broader strategy to allow candidates to learn more about the concerns of residents and Cooley says by inviting all candidates to join, it creates additional opportunities for dialogue between candidates and constituents.
“This is designed to be a roaming cleanup, so let’s say folks have concerns about a new park we’re wanting to do down on the south (end), which is an actual issue going on right now, we can go down there, clean that whole area up and talk about it,” explained Cooley.
“So we can see it, we can talk about it, we can look at it or if somebody has an issue, any area in town, we’ll go there, clean up, see it, look at it, and we can all, as a group, talk about it. I just think that while we’re out somewhere, we improve it, make it better. Then we can be mobile and go see the issues that the citizens have and what better way to learn about the town than to walk around and just talk about the issues together?”
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Ken Bryan stopped by to support the new concept. He found it to be a fresh approach to connecting with residents and says it’s indicative of the innovative momentum the city is channeling to address issues.
“I think this is a fantastic event. Because of COVID, it gives people an opportunity to come out, meet the current commissioners as well as the candidates, in a safe environment,” said Bryan, discussing issues like the pier with those who stopped to talk.
Johnston was the only other candidate to accept the invitation for the first informal meet the candidates event but appreciates the multipurpose approach.
“Every candidate has a different perspective and outlook about how to handle challenges for the city, and it’s a great way for an individual to almost roundtable, but instead walk and pick up trash and figure out problems together,” said Johnston, a self-proclaimed problem solver.
“Two candidates can walk side-by-side with a resident and discuss and work out issues. One will become an elected official and the others will go back to being residents. Those candidates, the issues they have important to their hearts, are still going to be important issues as a resident. So, even though they’re your competition for now, they’re going to be your friend later.”
Cooley hopes others will take advantage of the opportunity presented by joining in the next event set for Saturday, February 13th at 9 am, starting at the Flagler Beach Pier.
“This was an idea we came up with this week and there are some candidates that might not know about it, but it’s widely published on social media. This is a chance for them to talk about their knowledge of issues,” shared Cooley.
“We meet at the A-frame but from there we let the citizens decide where we’re going to go.”
For a list of candidates and information about the March election in Flagler Beach, visit www.flaglerelections.com.
