Q &A with theresa

Theresa Pontieri intends to promote sustainable economic vitality in Flagler County through a multifaceted strategy that balances economic growth, infrastructure readiness, environmental preservation, and quality of life for residents. Her approach includes:

Smart, Balanced Growth

• Mrs. Pontieri emphasizes “smart growth,” ensuring that economic expansion is matched with ready infrastructure such as roads, utilities, schools, and emergency services, to avoid the pitfalls of rapid and unchecked development.
• She supports comprehensive planning, guided by the county’s long-term land use and transportation strategies that prioritize both the ability to attract new businesses and the protection of existing communities.

Diversification and Business Attraction

• Mrs. Pontieri advocates for diversifying the local economy beyond residential construction, calling for the attraction of light industrial, commercial, and entrepreneurial ventures that create good-paying jobs and broaden the tax base.
• She backs the development of “pad-ready” sites, commercial parcels prepared for immediate investment, to accelerate business relocation and expansion opportunities in a way that supports economic resilience.
• As a Conservative Republican, Mrs. Pontieri believes in the concept of free markets, furthering policies that support capitalism, competition, lower taxes, deregulation, and private enterprise as the best ways to foster economic growth. 

Environmental Stewardship

• Sustainable development must also preserve natural assets, such as the coastline and green spaces, and integrate environmental protections into economic planning.
• She is committed to sustainable beach management, recognizing that healthy beaches are vital for tourism, storm protection, and long-term economic prosperity.

Community Engagement and Transparency

• Pontieri pledges regular town halls, transparent budgeting, and open lines of communication so residents remain engaged and informed on economic and infrastructural priorities.
• Her approach supports a collaborative model in which policy, business interests, and resident concerns are harmonized for long-term vitality.

Public-Private Partnerships and Innovation

• Mrs. Pontieri encourages creative partnerships with private companies to deliver services and economic benefits without increased tax burdens or public expenditures, thereby sustaining high service levels while safeguarding fiscal health.

Mrs. Pontieri’s sustainable economic vitality vision is anchored in smart planning, broadening the economic base, protecting the environment, and ensuring that growth aligns with the community’s needs and long-term stability.

Theresa Pontieri’s approach to ensuring responsible growth and infrastructure balance focuses on disciplined planning, strict enforcement of development standards, and coordination with stakeholders to protect both community character and essential services.

Disciplined Growth Management

• Mrs. Pontieri is a vocal advocate for “smart growth,” meaning new development should only proceed when roads, utilities, public safety, and schools are prepared to accommodate it, thereby preventing overcrowding and service strain.
• She supports the use of comprehensive planning tools such as growth management plans and impact analyses to guarantee that infrastructure keeps pace with residential and commercial expansion.

Infrastructure Readiness and Investment

• Mrs. Pontieri prioritizes targeted investment in core infrastructure, including roads, water, sewer, and emergency services, favoring upgrades and expansions that match projected population and business growth.
• Mrs. Pontieri supports “pad-ready site” preparation for business parks to ensure commercial projects do not burden residential infrastructure and can expedite sustainable job creation.

Developer Accountability

• To ensure responsible growth and quality development, Mrs. Pontieri advocates for strict enforcement of developer obligations, including requiring adequate infrastructure contributions or improvements as a condition of large-scale projects.
• She emphasizes the need for impact fees, paid by developers, to fund new or expanded services so that current residents are not disproportionately affected by growth.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Mrs. Pontieri insists on transparent public processes, encouraging resident participation in decisions about growth, zoning, and infrastructure priorities, and utilizing regular town halls for citizen input.
• She collaborates with county and municipal partners, and coordinates with state agencies to align funding and planning for regional infrastructure projects.

Environmental and Resource Considerations

• Mrs. Pontieri's responsible growth model integrates environmental protections with smart planning decisions, ensuring that developments safeguard water quality, green spaces, and key ecological resources.

Through these measures, Mrs. Pontieri seeks to guarantee that Flagler County’s growth enhances rather than undermines quality of life, providing the infrastructure and services necessary to support future prosperity without sacrificing environmental or fiscal stability.

Theresa Pontieri’s plan to lower taxes at the Flagler County level centers on three core strategies: reducing unnecessary spending, broadening the commercial tax base, and enhancing transparency and accountability in budgeting.

Controlling Spending and Improving Efficiency

• Mrs. Pontieri pledges to scrutinize the county budget line-by-line to eliminate wasteful or duplicative expenditures and redirect funds toward essential services and long-term priorities.
• She supports implementing fiscally responsible policies, evaluating all county projects for cost-effectiveness, and seeking operational efficiencies to minimize pressure on taxpayers.

Diversifying the Tax Base

• To lessen dependency on residential property taxes, Mrs. Pontieri champions the expansion of commercial and light industrial development, which can bring more revenue to the county, lessening the tax burden on homeowners.
• She backs economic development initiatives that attract new businesses and investment, generating additional taxable value and allowing for rate reductions for residents.

Transparent Budgeting and Public Accountability

• Mrs. Pontieri calls for greater transparency in county finances, proposing regular public reporting, citizen review sessions, and open budgeting processes so residents have a direct role in scrutinizing spending and advocating for responsible tax policy.
• She believes that by empowering residents with budget information and enforcing strict oversight, the county can keep tax rates in check while maintaining key infrastructure and services.

Mrs. Pontieri's overall goal as a Conservative Republican is to lower the tax burden for all residents by growing the county responsibly, controlling government spending, and making sure economic growth translates into tax relief, building on her record as a fiscal conservative on the Palm Coast City Council.

Theresa Pontieri’s plan to manage beach renourishment in Flagler County focuses on creating a sustainable beach management plan that prioritizes restoring and maintaining healthy beaches and dunes. She recognizes beach nourishment as essential for storm protection, economic vitality, and tourism. Pontieri commits to working closely with fellow commissioners, county staff, state and federal partners to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to beach restoration and long-term coastal protection.

Key elements of her plan include:

• Restoring dunes to strong, natural conditions with protective vegetation to stabilize sand and buffer storms, recognizing that natural dunes with native grasses are the best protection against beach erosion.
• Ensuring the beach renourishment projects start promptly and are sustained over time, as demonstrated by recent federal funding for Flagler Beach restoration, supported by local leaders including Pontieri herself.
• Emphasizing thoughtful, science-based management that balances environmental preservation with the need for tourism and economic development tied to healthy beaches.
• Advocating for smart growth policies that protect natural coastal areas such as the Hammock and encourage development that respects environmental constraints along the shoreline.

Pontieri’s approach is collaborative, science-driven, and focused on long-term resilience, seeking to protect Flagler County’s natural assets while supporting the economic and community benefits that come from well-maintained beaches.
 

The key goals of Theresa Pontieri’s beach management strategy for Flagler County focus on long-term coastal resilience, environmental preservation, and economic sustainability. These goals include:

• Restoring and maintaining healthy beaches and dunes: Focusing on beach nourishment and dune restoration with native vegetation to provide natural flood and storm protection, which helps safeguard homes, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
• Supporting tourism and economic vitality: Recognizing that well-maintained beaches are essential to the local economy, Pontieri aims to ensure beaches remain attractive and accessible for residents and visitors alike.
• Promoting sustainable, science-based management: Using research-driven methods to balance environmental protection with necessary human interventions, avoiding harmful overdevelopment along the coast while protecting critical natural habitats like the Hammock.
• Ensuring long-term funding and collaboration: Securing consistent financial support through federal, state, and local partnerships to implement continuous beach nourishment and restoration projects, while coordinating efforts among government entities and stakeholders.
• Encouraging community and stakeholder engagement: Maintaining transparency and public involvement in beach management decisions to ensure community needs and environmental considerations are aligned.

These goals collectively position Mrs. Pontieri’s beach management strategy as a comprehensive effort to protect Flagler County’s coastline from erosion and storms, while fostering a healthy environment and a resilient local economy.

Theresa Pontieri plans to pursue robust community engagement through several key efforts:

• Regular Public Forums and Town Halls: Mrs. Pontieri will hold frequent meetings to provide updates on ongoing and future projects, solicit resident feedback, and answer questions directly, fostering transparency and trust in local government decisions.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Involvement: Mrs. Pontieri will involve diverse stakeholders, including residents, environmental groups, business owners, and governmental agencies, ensuring all voices are heard and interests balanced.
• Transparent Communication and Reporting: Mrs. Pontieri supports clear, accessible information dissemination about project timelines, funding sources, and environmental impact through city websites and social media to keep the public informed and engaged.
• Educational Outreach: She plans to promote public education initiatives focused on informing the community on complex issues and being available to answer questions and engage in tough dialogue.
• Encouraging Civic Participation: Mrs. Pontieri advocates for empowering community members to participate in advisory boards or volunteer programs in order to strengthen local stewardship.

By prioritizing two-way communication, inclusiveness, and ongoing public involvement, Mrs. Pontieri aims to build broad community support and collective responsibility for the success and sustainability of Flagler County’s projects, policies, and priorities.