MARTIN COUNTY — The president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association — a union representing law enforcement officers — is running to unseat County Commission veteran Sarah Heard.
“She needs to go. She’s been there too long,” said John Kazanjian, 67, also president of the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, the union representing Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach county law enforcement.
Kazanjian, a Republican, has been president of the local union for 18 years. He lives in unincorporated Martin County.
The Republican primary is Aug. 18, with the General Election Nov. 3.
Heard has been county commissioner since 2002.
Kazanjian filed candidate paperwork in March. He had raised $2,100 as of Sept. 30, and spent about $166, according to the most recent campaign finance report.
The issue of growth
Heard’s voting record has contributed to what Kanzanjian said is out-of-control growth. And her involvement with a developer in Port Salerno could have contributed to development there that her constituents didn’t want, he said.
Kazanjian wants to rein in out-of-control growth, he said. Dozens of condominiums have been built along Lost River Road, for example, but the road is unable to handle the traffic, he said. Kazanjian is president of the Lost River Homeowners Association.
“No one ever thinks this out,” Kazanjian said. “We need to put some common-sense people in there,” referring to the County Commission.
Public safety is top issue
While growth is one issue, “my top priority is safety,” said Kazanjian, who is a reserve deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He wants to support Martin County first responders, such as firefighters and lifeguards, by raising their pay and giving them the opportunity to buy or rent homes at affordable prices.
It’s more expensive to live in Martin County than Palm Beach County, he said, and first responders are making less than their Palm Beach County counterparts.
Conflicts of interest?
Kazanjian conceded that conflicts of interest may occur involving the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, for example, if he is elected. He would be asked to vote on financial and other issues involving agencies where he is involved as union president.
Asked about the possibility, he said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
He would recuse himself from a vote, he said, or he may step down from his police union job. His current term is up in 1½ years. And six years ago, the association established term limits of two four-year terms.
“My focus would be on Martin County residents,” he said.
No other official candidates … yet
At the same time Kazanjian is gearing up his campaign, another high-profile resident is considering throwing his hat into the ring.
Stuart Vice Mayor Christopher Collins, in his first term on the City Commission, is considering running, he indicated.
In a text to TCPalm Nov. 3, Collins said he is “not sure yet” if he will run in the Republican primary for the District 2 seat now held by Stacey Hetherington.
No one else had officially filed to run for County Commission as of Nov. 10, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Police union head aims to unseat Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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