Army vet challenges 3-term incumbent in Democratic primary for St. Lucie County Commission District 1

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The choices for Democrats in the St. Lucie County Commission District 1 primary are three-term incumbent Chris Dzadovsky and retired Army Capt. Robin Bynoe.

“I’m battled-tested with budgetary concerns, through a recession and through many hurricanes,” said Dzadovsky, 58, who lists some of his accomplishments as approving the $60 million deal with the New York Mets to renovate Clover Park to keep spring training here for 25 years; securing a grant to pay for childcare services for first responders who had to work in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic; and approving a grant to waive bus fares for the public bus system.

The commission last year approved a 30-year lease to Derecktor Ft. Pierce to convert the Port of Fort Pierce into a mega-yacht repair center.

“While you may not see 100 ships sitting on shore, there has been a significant amount of activity at the port, such as tearing down the old packing house,” said Dzadovsky, a retired aviation communications professional. “Had there not been a COVID-19, we would have been moving forward faster than we have. I’m not going to put that on Derecktor. There was a worldwide pandemic that slowed everything down.”

If reelected, Dzadovsky said, he would focus on race relations in the community and improving water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.

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Bynoe, 50, said he has nothing bad to say about Dzadovsky’s leadership, just that he would do a better job.

“I think he has done a good job, but being from here, I see so much more that is needed that I don’t think he sees,” Bynoe said.

Bynoe said he disagrees with the county borrowing $60 million to renovate Clover Park because taxpayers didn’t get much of a deal since the stadium is unused when baseball season ends.

“We could have taken a little bit of that money and improved Lawnwood Stadium, and then it could be used to attract concerts or other entertainment,” Bynoe said.

Bynoe disagrees with the county’s port lease to Derecktor instead of to a group of local businessmen — Sandy Woods, former state Rep. Larry Lee Jr., NFL player Khalil Mack.

“When you have local people here who are willing to put in the sweat equity to develop the port, it has to be given much weight,” Bynoe said.

If elected, he would focus on economic development by pitching Treasure Coast International Airport to companies such as Amazon, which could build a warehouse or distribution center at the airport and ship cargo from here.

“We have Amazon here (a distribution center) and we can leverage that. This could be the beginning of a partnership where they put one of their headquarters here,”

He wants to trim government spending and maintainthe property-tax rate. from going any higher.

“I think the County Commission needs to review its priorities” Bynoe said. “I think they have ambitious plans but then sometimes you have to wait on those plans until you have the money to bring it to fruition.”

The winner of the primary will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election on Nov. 3. The job, with its four-year term, pays $80,969 a year.

Keona Gardner covers the cities of Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County. Contact her at 772-221-4206 or keona.gardner@tcpalm.com with news tips.

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