City of Melbourne Mayor Candidate Hazel Buggs Discusses Her Run For Mayor Ahead of Nov. 3 Election

Election Day is November 3

ABOVE VIDEO: City of Mayor candidate Hazel Buggs sat down with Space Coast Daily for an exclusive interview about her motivation to run for mayor and what she would bring to Melbourne if elected on November 3.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – City of Mayor candidate Hazel Buggs sat down with Space Coast Daily for an exclusive interview about her motivation to run for mayor and what she would bring to Melbourne if elected on November 3.

Buggs, a native of Eastman, Georgia, has lived in Melbourne for over 35 years and believes her visionary approach, challenge driven and her time as professional servant leader in both civic and community arenas qualifies her to be the mayor of Melbourne.

As a mother of two adult daughters, Hazel was also married to the late Reverend Jesse E. Buggs, Sr. for 27 years.

As a very active in the community, Hazel has over 30 years of community service. Her involvement includes: the Community Action Board to the Brevard County Commissioners, Melbourne Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board to the Melbourne City Council, University Park Elementary School Advisory Council, Powell Subdivision Neighborhood Watch Committee. Life member and former Officer of the Boston NAACP Branch and the South Brevard Branch NAACP, former Vice President and charter member of the National Congress of Black Women, founder of the Minister’s Wives Alliance of Melbourne, founder of the South Melbourne Neighborhood Redevelopment Extension Committee, member of the BTAN/Stop HIV Stigma Coalition, Friends of the Dr. Martin Luther King Library, Push Back Community Alliance and Concerned Citizens Committee of Melbourne.

Her work experience includes the following: Real Estate Agent, Substitute Teacher for the Brevard Public Schools, Harris Corporation, Office Manager for the Boston NAACP, Senior Staff Assistant/Special Project for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Cambridge, MA, Supervisor of Support Staff for the College of Business, Northeastern University-Boston MA, and business owner of Betterwear Consignment and Sister to Sister Unique International Boutique.

GET TO KNOW WHERE HAZEL BUGGS STANDS ON LOCAL ISSUES

Preservation of the Indian River Lagoon
I will identify strategic public and private partners to work together to develop a plan for future growth that encourages smart development while protecting our natural beauty. This approach protects our Indian River lagoon from the polluting nutrients that have caused a decline in its health over the past half century.

Crime and Drug Prevention
I will work to enhance community policing in all parts of the city to build trust between our citizens and our law enforcement professionals. We have a wonderful law enforcement staff that can become even more effective by expanding their community policing strategies. Melbourne should continue working with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to identify and implement community policing strategies across our city.

Affordable Housing
I will help to provide safe, attractive and affordable housing for our economically vulnerable residents. Melbourne must work to encourage and incentivize development of affordable housing for our residents that work in service industries, education and other areas where housing is a challenge. I will work with the city manager and our council to allow increased density and building heights in areas identified for affordable housing. Experiment with new building types, including “tiny houses”. Also, encourage municipal participation in identifying grants for affordable housing.

Environmental Concerns
I will work with the city manager and the council to ensure that city codes and guidelines encourage smart growth principles, promote low-impact development, and protect and preserve environmentally sensitive lands for public use.

Infrastructure Improvements
I will take a two-pronged approach to infrastructure. City buildings will be designed or retrofitted to encourage low energy use and renewable energy as a source to the greatest extent practical. I will work with the city manager and council to ensure that city codes promote and incentivize low impact development, walkability, smart growth principles and address resiliency as a key component in planning any new development or rehabilitation/upgrade of current facilities.

Helping Our Homeless And Disenfranchised Population
I want to help find the solution to the panhandling and homeless situation in the city.

Economic Development
I will support local small businesses work to provide an environment that will foster startups, growth and expansion. I would like to see a stronger commercial tax base supporting existing businesses, as well as attracting new ones. The increase in revenue will provide more efficient and effective service for our city and jobs for our citizens.

Quality Water
We must address water quality both use by our citizenry and its impact on our wildlife and recreation. While Melbourne and Brevard County have a tremendous challenge in restoring the Indian River Lagoon system, the reality is that all Florida cities and counties have their own water issues. We are at a tipping point and continued disregard for Florida’s waters will result in irreversible harm to our treasured springs, rivers, lakes and estuaries.

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