Candidate: Vito Russo

First and foremost, my brothers and I won the lottery having strong, stable, loving parents, blue-collar parents that taught us the American work ethic, to be independent, to think for ourselves, to say what we mean and mean what we say; make a commitment and stick to it..

I have an extremely diverse background being from blue-collar folks and being the first in my family to go to university. I worked hard and earned three university degrees in science, in engineering, and business. I have the blue-collar skills of working with your hands, thinking through a project using common sense. I built my 30ft x 40ft red-iron garage to restore my antique cars and motorcycles. I did the work to restore my 108-year-old house in the South Historic District; all the carpentry work, designing and installing an entirely new plumbing system, and doing most of the electrical work. I have one of the most beautiful historic houses in the city, a perfect example of Craftsman architecture.

I am also an army veteran.

Going to the source of my commitment to community service, twenty-two years ago I miraculously survived an extremely serious automobile accident. An accident I should not have survived, only suffering a concussion and a few stiches. I have often wondered why I survived. I came to the conclusion: I am still walking this Earth to do good works. I have made a commitment to community service.

There is much need in our city. Our median household income is approximately $25,000, meaning half our community lives in poverty. That is unacceptable.

I am no genius, but I am very good at research. The solutions to our city’s challenges have already been created, established, and proven to work in other communities. As an example, the arts contribute to a community’s culture, image, and revitalization. The arts get the cash registers ringing and boost local economies.

I have worked hard to employ this principle to our city. My best work was on transforming the Campbell School building on 7th Street into the Palatka Cultural Art Center (CAC); I developed the programs, I secured the architects, I secured the teachers, and I have a letter from the State of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs stating the proposal would be a benchmark project for the State of Florida eligible for a $500,000 grant.

We are in desperate need of programs for our children and the CAC would manifest the talent of our kids in the arts, build their self-confidence, and keep them off the streets. The most beautiful aspect of the CAC idea, it required no funding from the city, the concept generated between $5,000 to $10,000 a month to be plowed into community programs for all of our citizens, not just the kids. All the programs were to be free.

Incredibly, the CAC vision received no support from the city, not Mayor Hill, nor the city commissioners.

Another idea, I offered to establish two passive recreational green space parks in the city, no cost to the city, no burden to the city’s public works; music events, raising the quality of life and property values in those neighborhoods. Again, no support from the city, only obstacles. City commissioners sitting up there with no interest.

My only success overcoming the city commission’s lack of vision, I organize and established a beautiful music festival for the community: Palatka Porchfest. This year will be the sixth year for the Palatka Porchfest Music Festival, always held the first Saturday of December in the South Historic District, and amazingly it draws attendees from approximately 50 different zip codes; most of the profits from the music festival are donated to local charities.

What more does the city want from one of its citizens?

So, the one thing I can promise all of you if I become a city commissioner, I will bring a vision, common sense, and the American can-do attitude.