“Like he promised, Merritt prioritized the St. Lucie River.”
The single greatest threat facing my family's quality of life in the City of Stuart is another toxic Lake Okeechobee discharge. Toxic blue green algae. Waterways closed for recreational use. People sick. Dogs dying.
We endured the Lost Summer of 2013, then again we had toxic discharges in 2016 prompting a “no-touch” river advisory. Yet, we still didn't have political will at the Stuart City Council to make fixing the water a priority. And then, not surprisingly, we got slammed with another toxic discharge in 2018.
In the wake of these environmental and economic disasters Merritt Matheson ran for City Commission, committing to me and other river advocates, that he would do all he could to stop future discharges and prioritize the river.
Merritt was elected in 2018 and kept his word. I personally sat in on calls he made to the Army Corps of Engineers, one in which he floated the idea of a possible lawsuit. He led the City's involvement during the years of public workshopping of the new Lake Okeechobee Management Plan (LOSOM). And he contributed to years of River Coalition meetings where I attended as a board member.
Like he promised, Merritt prioritized the St. Lucie River when he was a Stuart commissioner and he assures me that if elected, he will again.
I have confidence in Merritt, and my dog Lucie, thanks him for his efforts.
