Lisa Gonzalez Moore Runs For Bradenton City Council Ward 4 Seat

BRADENTON, FL — Bradenton voters will decide who will win the Ward 4 seat on the Bradenton City Council.

Three candidates are vying for the seat:

• Kurt Landefeld
• Lisa Gonzalez Moore
• Bill Sanders, incumbent

Voters will choose the winner in the Nov. 8 general elections.

Patch has asked all candidates to complete a questionnaire about their campaign and their priorities.

Moore responded to our survey and her responses are posted below:

Name

Lisa Gonzalez Moore

Campaign website

https://lisagonzalezmoore4bradenton.com

City or town of residence

Bradenton

Office sought

Bradenton City Council Ward 4

Education

B.A. in Political Science/English and J.D. from University of Florida

Occupation

Attorney

Family

My husband and I have been married for 23 years after meeting as undergrad students at the University of Florida. We married in our last year of law school and moved to the Sarasota/Manatee area upon graduation. We now have four wonderful children. Our oldest Faith, is a sophomore in college, Abby is a high school senior, Matthew is a high school freshman, and our youngest, Anna, is a fourth grader. We are all active volunteers for various community organizations and schools and love doing all sorts of things to explore our own beautiful backyard that is Bradenton such as kayaking or paddle boarding the Manatee River or riding our bikes to the downtown farmers’ market in the fall.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

47

Previous public office, appointive or elective

No

Why are you seeking this office?
I strive to be an active participant in my community. I considered running four years ago, but the timing was not right for us as a larger family with younger, busy children. My children are now older, and my in-laws and mother now live here as well, offering a support system that not all working participants in growing communities are fortunate to have. I am very aware and mindful of this. I have lived in Ward 4 for over 12 years and have watched in hopes that the area would grow into a more vibrant part of the city, especially in light of my belief that all of the Wards within the city have a vested interest in the health of the other Wards. Now that Bradenton is poised to address the requisite infrastructure and housing needs of a rapidly growing resident base, the time is now for serious planning for this growth across all Wards. Given my professional experience and my familiarity with the city, I believe that I am the right person to help steer the city into a vibrant, safe future for all residents.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The differences between myself and the other two candidates are straightforward and simple. The other two candidates, one incumbent, one challenger, moved here after they retired from other states, and until various degrees of recently, were part-time residents of Bradenton. As a woman that has lived in Manatee County for 20 years, over 12 of which were in Ward 4, and throughout starting and raising a family and a business, I am uniquely suited to know our city from the perspective of what we need to be aware for all residents. From my children’s ages to my husband's and mine and through our parents that live here now as well, I see the advantages of bringing together all views and needs.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I am challenging an incumbent. While initially many in Ward 4 found hope in the incumbent’s promises of being a newcomer to the area with a desire to offer an alternative to what some viewed as the status quo, in the past four years it has become apparent that the incumbent’s temperament is perhaps not best suited for public service. Identifying issues is the first step towards improving the quality of life for the community, but it is not the only step. The incumbent lacks the ability to identify solutions and work jointly with other community leaders to effectuate real change.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

My platform is ensuring infrastructure and addressing quality of life issues for the area such as accessible housing, beautification, and maintenance of the water ways that contribute to Bradenton’s level of visibility as a growing and up and coming thriving, healthy city in Florida on our beautiful coast. I believe in a leadership model that actively listens to the needs and desires of its citizens and responds with transparency and common goal-based solutions.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have held varied positions in my professional life that ultimately led me to have my own business for over six years now as evidence of my ability to adapt and learn from my work environment. There is no job that is too small; all jobs must be performed to achieve the common goals, and a good leader can step in and perform those at any time. I would also point to my extensive bank of volunteerism and the leadership roles I took in those environments. Even when tedious, I do not shy away from the hard work that is necessary to get a job done.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

As a young woman, my supervisor at a juvenile justice program in Gainesville once sat me down to talk about the importance of listening to others and the role of compromise to achieve our goals. She said, “Find out what their non-negotiables - those things that the other person just can’t bend on - are, understand your non-negotiables, and find a solution that allows the two of you to move beyond those deal breakers to a space that you both can feel good about.” Ever since, I work hard to listen to others and find win-win positive solutions for everyone to the best of my ability.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I care. I care a lot. I always have. I will continue to work hard for the accomplishments that come about when we work together. This is about us; we are the city of Bradenton. I care about this community, and I strive in all things to live what I say I believe.