Four candidates for local offices answered questions from voters at the Cedar Key News Candidates' Forum held April 26. However, opposing candidates for a seat on the city commission, Heath Davis and Bryan Skarupski, did not attend the meeting. Candidates` Forum Moderator Jim Green, left, and the four candidates who participated listen to a question from an audience member. Candidates, shown left to right, are Paul Oliver, Mike Day, Scott Dennison and Dottie Haldeman.
Many of the fifty-plus in the forum audience asked specific questions ranging from paving plans to personal actions by candidates. Forum moderator Jim Green kept the responses on track and gave opposing candidates the opportunity to make comments.
Many questions focused on the performance and policies of the Cedar Key Police Department. Other questions concerned the Cedar Key Water & Sewer District and its role in expenditure of Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds, which are under the control of the city commission.
The safety of the bridges to the airport and Dock Street were discussed, as was park maintenance and enforcement of the building code. Several questions were directed at all four candidates present.
Vanessa Edmunds, who is on the city commission but not running for reelection, asked each candidate to take a position on merger of the water and sewer district with the city. Water board member Dottie Haldeman said she has no problem with having an analysis of the merger, but that if all the lots on the island were developed, any expansion of district facilities would be at a cost.
City commission candidate Scott Dennison noted the very unusually separation of water and sewer services from city services and advocated an independent audit of the water district. Haldeman's opponent, Michael Day, said that he is surprised that no merger study has been done. He added that in 35 years, the water district's lease runs out and that the city will take over then.
Commission candidate Paul Oliver concurred generally with the comments but said the commission must protect the citizens' economic situation. He said corporate mergers have advantages in theory but often fair to have the economies of scale proposed by merger advocates.
A brief discussion of the Cedar Key Police Department could be summarized by a consensus that there needs to be better understanding of who sets policy and police department budgeting.
In other city matters, the inadequacy of maps of mean high water lines, utility lines and existing (and non-existing) roads was rehashed. Unsafe bridges, a Levy County responsibility, elicited a quick response from Levy County Commissioner Lillie Rooks, who was in attendance. Rooks said she has a promise from Tallahassee that the bridges will be fixed.
Discussion of combining the city and water district reemerged. Dottie Haldeman reminded the audience that the water district was formed because the city did not want the responsibility. She said that her mother and current water board Chair Thelma McCain personally signed a $100,000 note to get the district started. She added that we can't stop growth but we want to keep the village atmosphere. The only applause of the event came after that remark.
Moderator Jim Green gave the candidates the opportunity for closing remarks on why voters should choose them. They responded with the expected goal of public service and disavowal of taking the big bucks of salary. | 
