Sewall's Point Town Commission: Familiar faces challenge incumbents for three open seats
Catie WegmanFive candidates are vying for three at-large seats on the Sewall's Point Town Commission in the general election Nov. 3.
Incumbents Kaija Mayfield, Frank Fender and Vinny Barile face John Tompeck and Johnny "Cowboy" Colson — two residents who have both run for office in previous Town Commission elections.
The three highest-voted candidates will join Commissioners James Campo and Dave Kurzman, whose terms do not end until 2022. The elected commissioners will assume the four-year term on Nov. 17. It is a volunteer position, and commissioners do not get paid.
Kaija Mayfield
Kaija Mayfield was voted onto the commission in June 2019 to fill a seat left vacant after the resignation of Commissioner Paul Luger. Mayfield beat both Tompeck and Colson for the seat, records show.
One of Mayfield's main priorities is improving and mitigating the storm water and king tide flooding issues that regularly occur in the town by raising South Sewall's Point Road, she said. The project, in turn, would open the possibility of sewer connection in South Sewall's Point — both of which would improve water quality in local rivers.
In her campaign last year, she said her focus would be protecting local rivers, promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency, and maintaining Sewall's Point to keep it family-friendly, safe and aesthetically pleasing.
It's a platform Mayfield plans to maintain should she be reelected, while also monitoring an ever-changing economic climate.
"I think there is great value in finding a balance between moving forward with town business and taking into consideration the uncertainties in today's world, and the struggles and hardships behind these uncertainties," she said.
Mayfield earned a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting from the University of Florida and worked at Ernst & Young; United Way of Martin County; and Proctor, Crook & Crowder before deciding to stay at home to raise her three children now ages 14, 13 and 9.
She also serves on the board of the Council for the Environmental Studies Center.
Frank Fender
Frank Fender was first elected to the town commission in 2016, serving as vice mayor and currently as mayor. He's been a Sewall's Point resident for 18 years.
Fender has been a long-time advocate for a septic-to-sewer transition in Sewall's Point. He and Campo voted in favor of the measure in November 2017, but lost 3-2. When elected as mayor in December, Campo said Fender would shift the town’s approach to the environment.
Protecting the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon are high on Fender's priorities, and he aims to help restore the water flow to the Everglades back south so a healthy level of clean salinity is returned to local estuaries. The solution, he said, is to buy the land to divert the water flow.
Other issues he is passionate about include keeping property taxes and millage rates as low as possible; maintaining town safety through a strong police force; and protecting and increasing property values through infrastructure, aesthetics, and security.
In his time as mayor, Fender said the town has accomplished many projects such as replacing playground equipment, updating the town's website, increasing Town Hall activity and implementing a flooding mitigation system in South Sewall's Point.
Fender also founded the Treasure Coast Marathon in 2014 and served as the race director until Mike Melton took over in 2019. He owns TeamLogic IT where he works as a software engineer.
Vinny Barile
Vinny Barile has served on the Town Commission since 2012, serving as mayor and currently vice mayor, and has been a Sewall's Point resident for about 20 years.
Barile, a Navy veteran, believes his record on the commission over the years speaks for itself, and his main goal is to continue doing what is best for the town's residents. Barile's knowledge of past and ongoing projects combined with his leadership abilities are what he said makes him the best candidate.
"My ultimate goal is simple, I care about our town and want to preserve and protect our quality of life," he said.
Barile is also a proponent for a septic-to-sewer transition, specifically in North Sewall's Point, to improve water quality.
While serving as mayor, Barile led the search in hiring a town manager, he said. Other projects he spearheaded included the South Sewall’s Point Road water mitigation and building Sewall’s Point Commons Park.
He also serves as the president of the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities; the voting delegate and resolutions committee member for the Florida League of Cities; vice president of the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments; and the past chair of the Martin County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
John Tompeck
John Tompeck has been a Sewall's Point resident since 1988 and wants to give something back to the town he's proud to call home, he said.
Tompeck, an engineer, has worked at Fort Pierce Utilities Authority for almost 20 years and is currently the CEO. His background in budgeting, infrastructure work and government operations make him a prime candidate for the Town Commission, he said.
Storm water management and septic-to-sewer conversations are high on Tompeck's list of priorities should he be elected, he said. Tompeck hopes to obtain grant money to expand the water mitigation project underway in North Sewall's Point to the rest of the town and work closely with Martin County Utilities' transition to a sewer system.
Tompeck said other issues on his platform include public safety, environmental stewardship, maintaining property values, making town meetings more resident friendly and having a strict handle on town spending.
Johnny Colson
This is the third time Johnny "Cowboy" Colson has campaigned for an open seat on the Sewall's Point Town Commission.
Colson, a U.S. Army veteran and retired Miami police officer, aims to focus on water quality, fiscal responsibility and transparency, his website says.
He has long advocated for the town commission to listen to its residents, claiming in a Nov. 2, 2018, article that most have spoken out at meetings against the septic to sewer conversions.
Colson was opposed to Martin County's mandated face mask requirements, quoted in a June 26 article saying the ordinance would be a violation of Second Amendment rights because those carrying a concealed weapon cannot legally cover their face.
He did not respond to TCPalm's requests for an interview and photo.
Catie Wegman is a community reporter who also produces "Ask Catie," an occasional feature to find answers to your burning questions about anything and everything — the more bizarre the better. Support her work with a TCPalm subscription. Contact her at catie.wegman@tcpalm.com or 772-221-4211 and follow her @Catie_Wegman on Twitter and @catiewegman1 on Facebook.