Jeannine Polk, a regular presence at Punta Gorda City Council meetings, announced March 6 she is running for the District 1 seat currently occupied by Donna Peterman.
Standing before Council during the public portion, Polk said she’s “never been political,” but with two sons who are sixth-generation residents of the city and a long family legacy, she chose to run to help preserve the historic district where she resides and protect the city’s quality of life.
At one time, Punta Gorda was known as a quaint fishing village on pristine waterways where residents enjoyed boating and outdoor activities. One of the city’s attractions is the downtown historic district where some of the buildings are on the National Historic Register.
She said people are still moving to Punta Gorda because of its rich history, but that is “now at risk of being erased.”
“It is baffling to me that a lot of historic homes are being torn down and replaced with duplexes,” Polk said. She said building 25 units per acre will annihilate the city.
Throughout downtown new houses are cropping up with many being small and close together on land where single homes once stood.
Recently, Council adopted its new master plan that has been the center of controversy for several residents. The master plan allows for higher density, and although there is a cap on height, large buildings would be allowed.
At one time, only one-story houses were allowed in Punta Gorda Isles, and downtown hotels and condos within the city were restricted by the number of stories.
Last year, Polk, her husband, Mike Polk, and dozens of Punta Gorda residents became part of a local grassroots movement called Smart Growth. This came at a time when the former owner of Fishermen’s Village announced plans to erect tall buildings and a hotel on the site, which has been a popular tourist attraction and dining destination for locals since it was built in 1980.
Although the former owner has since given up the property and Fishermen’s Village is operating as usual, the new master plan and other changes in the county and state would allow the erection of tall buildings and higher density.
Some state rulings override what cities and municipalities can do regarding building heights.
There are three seats up for grabs in the upcoming election: District 1, Mayor Lynne Matthews’ District 4 and Bill Dryburgh’s District 2.
The city of Punta Gorda election website, as of March 6, does not list any candidates, including the incumbents, who will be running in the election Aug. 20.
Jeannine Polk served as Debi Lux’s campaign manager last year as Lux defeated incumbent Mark Kuharski in a landslide victory of nearly 72%.
Lux represents District 3 in Punta Gorda Isles, and she ran on the platform of smart growth and maintaining the quality of life for residents by prohibiting tall buildings and high density, which would, among other things, clog roadways and imperil evacuations from storms, she maintained.
There are five districts in the city of Punta Gorda, and one must live in the district they would represent.
