Candidate: Phil Chester

What's the most important vote you'll cast this year?  No doubt most of you would say it's the vote for President.  That makes sense; the President is the most powerul person in the world.  But let me suggest a different answer.  

I'm Phil Chester, the Ward 2 councilman in Panama City Beach for the past four years.  I'm running for re-election, and when you go to the polls on April 21 to decide who will represent you in Ward 2, please consider the impact that your vote will have on our day-to-day life for the next four years.

What you'll find, I believe, is that your representative on the city council plays a larger role in your daily life than anyone from Washington, D.C. or even Tallahassee.  Whether the problem is traffic congestion, high-rise residential development, slow police and fire response or simply an annoying pothole, city council members are your best source for a solution.

During my first four-year term, I've initiated or participated in dozens of important motions to direct the growth of Panama City Beach in a controlled and effective way.  We're finally ready to improve traffic flow with Phase 2 of Bay Parkway.  Our new fire station on Nautilus is almost complete and will make significant difference in response times in Ward 2.  To improve safety on our beautiful beaches, we're implementing a lifegueard program this year.

We've built a new City Hall to better serve you and hired a new City Manager to plan and direct our growth.  We've provided more recreational facilities at Frank Brown Park, and two new pickleball courts have just opened adjacent to the Senior Center to accommodate the growing popularity of that sport.  I'm very proud of how our city has propered after the City Council eliminated the traditional Spring Break.

My wonderful wife, Andrea and our two boys have lived in Panama City Beach for more than 20 years, and all of us have been active in the community from the beginning.  The future of our beautiful city is very bright, and I remain committed to enhancing the quality of life here.

I encourage you to contact me by phone (850-819-7301) or email me (thechesters@comcast.net) with any questions.  Or, stop me at the produce aisle at Publix, I'm always available for my community.