Campo, Kurzman win seats on Sewall's Point Town Commission

Race: Sewall's Point Town Commission

Winner: James Campo, David Kurzman

Party: Nonpartisan

Defeated: Johnny Colson

Next step: Will be sworn in Nov. 26

At stake: Four-year term, no salary 

SEWALL’S POINT — In a race that came down to a handful of votes, incumbent James Campo and newcomer David Kurzman have won seats on the five-member Town Commission.

Campo and Kurzman were the top two vote getters — Campo getting 787 votes and Kurzman receiving 615 votes — to defeat Johnny Colson, a third candidate, who received 615 votes.

It will be the second term for Campo, a certified financial planner. The incumbent has described water quality as the top issue facing Sewall’s Point in the next four years.

Sewall's Point's location makes water improvement particularly crucial, according to Campo.

"We've got the St. Lucie River on one side, the Indian River Lagoon on the other and we're in close proximity to the ocean. We have to remain more active and keep our cutting-edge reputation," said Campo, owner of Campo Financial Services. "We have the means, and we want to set a good example."

Campo has touted the town's current $1.2 million filtration-pond project as one of his biggest accomplishments on the council. He said he's proud of the town's successes in securing grant money for river projects.

Kurzman, an entrepreneur and the owner of Natural Transplant Hair Restoration Clinics and Westwood Research Labs, also has said the river should be a top priority — but said he will try to take the town’s water-improvement strategy in a different direction.

Kurzman has objected to mandatory septic-to-sewer conversions — a topic of long discussion in Town Hall — and has said he would fight for the installation of aerobic-filtration systems, a process which uses aerobic bacteria to digest biological wastes.

"To me, sewers are archaic," Kurzman said. "They aren't green. You have to rip apart roads and tear down trees" to install them.

Kurzman also has vowed to be more responsive to residents than is the current commission.

"You talk in the meetings and you feel ignored," Kurzman said. "I'm tired of it."