NEWS RELEASE

Randy Old announced today that he will run for the City Council of Vero Beach in the election of November 4, saying he is looking forward to the challenge of helping the city as it comes together to resolve “a host of crucial issues.”

“We have a unique opportunity to settle a number of very important issues that will put Vero on a path for sustained improvement — and I welcome the opportunity to help meet these challenges,” said Old, 71.

Old brings an incredibly wide and diverse record of accomplishments in the U.S. and abroad to his campaign.

“We welcome Randy Old to the campaign for City Council and know that, if elected, he would be an outstanding member of the Council, based on his impressive record of achievements in many fields,” said Mayor Dick Winger. “He works well with others – and he gets things done.”

Old’s views on the top issues facing the Council and Vero residents, including the Fast Train, the Lagoon, and our utility rates, are spelled out in the accompanying release.

Old entered the U.S. Army after high school and served as a Japanese linguist, after attending language school. He then attended the University of North Carolina, where he studied Chinese for 4 years and received a BA in Far Eastern Studies. He was hired by Chase Bank, entered a training program in banking and finance, and was sent to Singapore and Tokyo before opening and managing a branch in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he and his family remained for seven years before returning to the U.S. He is still active in Jordan as Chairman of the American Center of Oriental Research, which facilitates archaeology in that country.

Old, who has been married to his wife Jody for 48 years, has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He and his family have been coming to Vero annually since the mid 1960s. The Olds bought their home in Vero in 1996 and now live here year round.

He is an alternate member of the City Finance Commission, is Chairman of the Old Vero Ice Age Cites Committee, which is sponsoring an archaeological excavation near the Vero airport of potential international importance, and is immediate past president of Riomar Country Club.

“In each place where we’ve lived,” Old says, “I’ve gotten involved in the local community, with schools, clubs or civic organizations. I feel strongly that one has to give back and assist in maintaining or improving the community in which you live. I’m devoted to Vero Beach not only because it’s our home, but because it’s a remarkable place that must retain its special character. Many of our residents spend a lot of their time and treasure helping to maintain and improve our common community. I would like to do my part.”

ON THE ISSUES

 

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA: The problem with the proposal for high-speed passenger service between Miami and Orlando is that it would benefit a few select cities at the expense of the many, including Vero – 32 trains a day at 110 mph that would not stop in our city. We must make sure we thoroughly understand all the ramifications of the proposal and fully prepare to stop or at least highly mitigate its impact on our city. Historic, hospital, emergency, school, and marine issues require serious attention and mitigation. We have to await an Environmental Impact Statement, being written for All Aboard Florida by a Federal Railroad Administration’s subcontractor. We will have 75 days to respond to that document. Many groups are compiling data for our city’s and county’s response. This will be a long and hard-fought battle.

SALE OF VERO BEACH’S UTILITY SERVICE TO FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT: Selling Vero’s electric business and/or lowering its utility rates has been a goal of the city for several years. The approach has been to negotiate a contract with Florida Power and Light, a private utility that offers lower rates than the city. The deal is complicated and a new specialty lawyer has been hired to consummate the transaction. We should know the outcome of these negotiations in a few weeks. Because we are dealing with private and public companies and existing contracts need to be honored, the deal might not be able to be completed regardless of the time and effort expended. Several alternative options should be and are being explored.

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON:   The water quality has declined in our lagoon, habitats have been lost or fragmented, overuse or overharvest has occurred, and exotic species have invaded the lagoon. All of these problems need to be addressed. Specifically, the use of fertilizer must be controlled, septic tanks need to be replaced with a sewer system or a step-down hybrid, and storm water needs to be contained. The Indian River is a vital asset of our city and entire state, and is a major reason many people choose to live here. It must be restored and protected.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING: To coordinate the best path forward for our city, we must undertake long-range planning that incorporates income statements, balance sheets, and cash flows. That would make it much easier to evaluate the lasting effects of current decisions and allow city officials to weigh competing proposals and better select the best choices for our community.

THE SEWAGE AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT:   Vero Beach has an excellent waste water and water treatment program. We must ensure that it remains that way. We should move the waste water treatment facility near the water treatment plant close to the airport when its debt has been fully paid, allowing its present waterfront location to be used for other purposes.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS: There has always been a practice in Vero of not allowing residential rentals of less than a month, on the grounds that shorter rentals are disruptive to our neighborhoods. The state allows short-term rentals, and our prohibition is currently being challenged in court. We are trying to confirm our practice by law, and should continue to aggressively pursue our goal of banning residential rentals of less than a month.

OLD BIO

AGE: 71.

RAISED: Concord, MA.

MARRIED: To wife Jody for 48 years, three children, five grandchildren.

VERO: Visited annually since 1960s, bought house in 1996, and live here year round.

CURRENT AND IMMEDIATE PAST POSITIONS: Alternate member of City Finance Commission, Chairman of Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee, Chairman of the American Center of Oriental Research, which facilitates archaeology in Jordan, and President of Riomar Country Club (term ended March 2014).

EDUCATION: BA in Far Eastern Studies from the University of North Carolina, with 4 years of Chinese. Much more recently, went back to school with wife, each obtained an MS degree in Herbal Medicine, and jointly started a practice in Vero Beach.

MILITARY SERVICE: Spent three years in the U.S. Army as a Japanese linguist, after attending the Army language school.

EMPLOYMENT: Employed by Chase Bank, attended management training program, posted to Singapore and Tokyo and then opened and managed a branch in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Became a consultant to a Minneapolis bank to do political risk and economic studies to help the bank determine where to do business in the Middle East and Africa. Returned to the U.S. after seven years in Jordan, settling in Annapolis, MD and became General Manager of Petra International Banking Corporation. Other ventures include a Walk-in-Doctors network of 68 offices in 6 states, a Prostate Gene Therapy startup company, and a technology-transfer company privatizing U.S. Navy technology.

WHY RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL: “In each place where we’ve lived,” Old says, “I’ve gotten involved in the local community, with schools, clubs or civic organizations. I feel strongly that one has to give back and assist in maintaining or improving the community in which you live. I’m devoted to Vero Beach not only because it’s our home, but because it’s a remarkable place that must retain its special character. Many of our residents spend a lot of their time and treasure helping to maintain and improve our common community. I would like to do my part.”

STATEMENT OF VERO MAYOR DICK WINGER:   “We welcome Randy Old to the campaign for City Council and know that, if elected, he would be an outstanding member of the Council, based on his record of impressive achievements in many fields. He works well with others – and he gets things done.”