Here is our Q&A with Mark Beigay, who is running for Mayor of Wilton Manors.
Why are you the best candidate for Mayor?
I trust in my vision for Wilton Manors. I trust in the projects my team have come up with and the research and collaboration of groups to help bring various new projects to fruition. Thinking outside the box to initiate new and fresh ideas for our city to become solutions is imperative in the role of Mayor. I welcome that challenge.
What are your qualifications?
I was elected and sat on various Boards of Directors for my college Residence Hall Association, as well as for my Home Owner’s Association Rutledge Maintenance Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, where I held the position of Vice President and worked closely with other board members, homeowners, and vendors, being one of four deciding votes on issues and initiatives. I have the strong drive and desire to be on the Wilton Manor’s Commission as Mayor and will honor the position and give all of my creative ideas and thoughts to make Wilton Manor’s the best place to call home.
Is affordable housing an area of concern? Is there anything a city as small as Wilton Manors can actually do about the problem?
Affordable/Attainable housing is very much an area of concern to me. As Mayor, I plan to support affordable housing and rental opportunities within our Island City. I plan to research how other cities comparable in size to Wilton Manors work with Affordable Workforce Housing options. It will be my goal to implement that into our city, using creative ideas to bring attainable living to Wilton Manors, ensuring that the pristine environment and charm of our city is never sacrificed.
List your top issues of concern.
Of several concerns I have to become the Wilton Manors of Tomorrow, here are three that I have been working on:
1. Support city businesses, including extended business hours, incentives for out of state visitors who shop, dine, and are entertained in Wilton Manors, forging partnerships between businesses to make it a win-win for both parties, and creating events throughout the year with everyone’s collaboration to benefit all of us.
2. Transportation and Parking. Increase the means of transportation in and around Wilton Manors, creating new and creative ways to bring people to the city while leaving their vehicles elsewhere. And creating a walkable city as much as possible. My goal is to keep our city environmentally friendly with clean and renewable energy.
3. Increasing the Arts & Culture within Wilton Manors, including adding creative venues for Performance Art, Street Theatre, and Music.
The police pay crisis is solved (for now). However, a similar crisis is looming with city staff, which is paid less than their counterparts in many Broward County municipality. How can the city retain staff without breaking the bank?
Small cities can and do face challenges retaining employees when competing with larger cities that pay more, but after researching this matter, I found a few strategies that could help the small city level the playing field.
Promote the Quality of Life in a small city, such shorter and easier commutes and a stronger sense of community. Provide training, mentorship, and opportunities for growth of careers within the city. Emphasize flexible scheduling and a healthy balance between work and personal life. Encourage employees to participate in local events and volunteer opportunities as part of a community involvement initiative.
I will work with Human Resources, the City Manager and the Commissioners to offer Unique Perks. I will make sure we are regularly recognizing and rewarding employees. We will continuously work to build relationships to foster a positive work environment. We will incentivize current employees with Employee Referral Programs. We will offer flexible work arrangements when possible.
By implementing these strategies, I believe small cities can effectively compete with larger cities for top talent and retain valued employees without breaking the bank.
Do you believe Wilton Manors should continue to grow or retain its roots as a bedroom community? What’s your vision?
Business owners strive to achieve success in their businesses. Wilton Manors should continue to grow to make the city as exciting and enticing as ever for visitors from around the world and for residents living here. Growth comes at a cost, but the return on investment will far exceed upfront costs. We must maintain Wilton Manors as the small, pristine charming community with growth that gives everyone an “Experience” when in our Island City. My vision is to create a Wilton Manors, that thrives on inclusivity, sustainability, and community-driven progress, allowing Wilton Manors to become the most desired community in the United States to visit, live and work and able to call home. Please visit my website at markebeigay.com for more on my Vision of Wilton Manors.
How can the city showcase diversity despite the edicts and mood from Tallahassee?
First off, as Mayor, I plan to work closely with the State Government, as well as the Broward County Government. I plan to show Tallahassee what Wilton Manors is all about, and get buy-in that we are not the enemy, but are friends who have other viewpoints and love the same way they love. As a small city, we need to Promote Diversity as directly and creatively as we can. We need to Protect Diversity at all costs, as Diversity is the backbone of Wilton Manors, Broward County, the state of Florida, and these great United States. We must Improve relationships with all elected officials so that can see Diversity has its place in our society. And we must include all people, ensuring all voices are heard, irrespective of identity or background. Together, we stand strong against those that will do anything and everything to try putting us down. It will not happen. We will not allow it to happen. We MUST raise our voices. And be heard.
Our sewage system is at the mercy of Fort Lauderdale. What can the city do, besides searching for and fixing leaks, to keep the streets clean and residents from paying a higher utility bills?
Work on finding alternative solutions that will benefit the city and not cause an exorbitant rise in utility bill fees. I will investigate applying for federal, state and local grants for infrastructure upgrades. We MUST prioritize repairs and replacements based on condition assessments, implement energy-saving technologies to reduce operational costs, promote water-saving measures to reduce sewage volume, identify and repair leaks to minimize water loss, and invest in employee training for efficient operations.
The update of storm drains and drainage systems with temporary storage systems is an effective strategy to prevent flooding in areas like Wilton Manors, especially during heavy rains and high tides. This solution focuses on capturing rainwater to store it temporarily and then releasing it in a controlled manner when water levels are manageable. By capturing rainwater before it saturates the drainage system or causes runoff, the risk of flooding on streets and properties is reduced. Underground tanks do not affect surface usage, allowing public spaces to remain open without occupying large visible areas. Stored water is gradually released into the stormwater system once the tide has lowered, preventing simultaneous saturation of the drainage system. This stormwater system update would not only be an effective and sustainable solution for Wilton Manors, but also provide long-term protection against climate change and extreme weather conditions. And as I suggested in the Candidate Forum, we can contract engineers to determine if dredging the canals around Wilton Manors to allow more water to be held would be a viable option.
