Issues

Eugene Flinn has led the Palmetto Bay Council and the community in its formative years. Gene has challenged Miami-Dade County on a variety of issues and won. He now looks forward to bringing his experience forward to change how Miami-Dade County works for everyone. A short list is provided below of his record, positions he has taken and how they can positively impact all Miami-Dade County residents:

Creation of a transparent and efficient government, a government that has saved revenue and acquired grants together totaling nearly $18 million dollars in the first seven years of Palmetto Bay's existence for use in village capital improvements. Eugene Flinn has the skill and expertise to position Miami-Dade County towards efficient property tax reforms and moving to an entirely new level of accountability, public participation, and transparency.
An open and transparent government includes a vibrant personal and official web site where important information is maintained for 24/7 viewing. Complete proposed budgets are posted online. Maintaining an after-hours "Duty phone" where any member of the public can reach a live village staffer for public work, code enforcement, and other non-police issues, as well as pioneering "E-Gov" where inquiries can be made and answers are available online 24/7.
Eugene Flinn has taken full advantage of the current technologies and was one of the first elected officials to regularly send out an electronic newsletter to residents and continues to do. He is also active on his personal web site, Facebook and Twitter. Making himself electronically accessible to the residents of District 8 will facilitate resident input and faster responses on issues.
Eugene Flinn has an outstanding commitment to quality parks and green space, as being essential to the community well-being. He has worked hard to improve the quality of life, including a well-supported initiative to create the "Village of Parks" in part through acquiring new village parks and working to improve existing parks. He sponsored changes to the village development plan requiring inclusion of green space in any village mixed-use development districts. His expertise in this area will bring an increased presence of these initiatives to county government.
His initiatives on improving the environment has led to the planned construction of the first environmentally gold level LEED municipal center in the State of Florida. Forging ahead, this project is seeking platinum status. With Flinn on the Commission, Miami-Dade County can be in the forefront of environmentally similar projects and innovations.
Working with neighboring officials to create government reform legislation - the "anti-shake down" zoning ordinance developed concurrently with the Mayor of Cutler Bay-requiring public disclosure of any attempts to solicit or receipt/payment of actual gifts or payoffs to individuals or groups in exchange for support or silence on zoning issues. This ordinance has been adopted by other Miami-Dade municipalities. Flinn's leadership on this issue makes him a natural to have this as a countywide initiative.

Flinn has sponsored many local ordinances, and taken positions, that affect the daily lives of local residents. They are clearly issues which he can sponsor and expand at the county level. His positions and record include:

He is a smart growth advocate, but opposes any high density growth that would negatively impact upon existing single family home areas.
Championed an ordinance to protect children from registered sex offenders
Led Palmetto Bay to enact Miami County's "Shannon Melindi Ordinance" to protect area children using our parks system.
Provided an extra homeowner exemption on property taxes to qualified low-income individuals over the age of 65.
Strengthened the lobbyist registration process.
Eugene Flinn has the experience to be your voice on the County Commission, having advocated before the Board of County Commissioners, our State Legislators in Tallahassee, and with federal agencies and members of Congress in Washington DC on issues that affect our quality of life. He has been extremely active in Tallahassee and DC on issues including:

Promoting smart growth and protecting of our environment
Flinn was one of the first to sponsor resolutions in opposition to SB 360, a law Flinn believes guts growth management in the name of illusory short term gain. Under Flinn's sponsorship, his city joined the Weston lawsuit to strike down SB 360

Caring deeply about the safety for our school children Flinn sought for a state ban of use of cell phones in school speed zones in 1997 and sponsored another resolution in 2009 seeking a ban of texting while driving in school zones,
Eugene Flinn continues to protect our children's safety and peace of mind through promotion of actual physical and cyber anti-bullying legislation. He ensures continued funding for Police programs for our children such as Officer Friendly, DARE and RAD Kids.
Eugene Flinn has fought and continues fight for for full funding of Florida's important environmental programs such as Florida Forever and Open Space Florida Forever Program.
Eugene Flinn continues to fight against unfunded mandates from Tallahassee that unfairly shift costs to the local taxpayers.
Eugene Flinn has sought real solutions to our Florida Windstorm Insurance crisis. Taking on issues including ending the arbitrary line that discriminates against residents living east of US1.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Eugene Flinn, non-partisan, for Miami-Dade County Commission, District 8.

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