Walker is voters’ only option in Parkland District Two
Parkland voters in District Two will see two names on the ballot for City Commission on Nov. 6, but they really have only one choice.
Businessman Richard Walker, 45, is the only option because his opponent, University of Miami freshman Diego Pfeiffer, told the Sun Sentinel this month that he is not campaigning and doesn’t expect to win.
Pfeiffer decided to seek office after the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He’s a graduate of the school and was there on Feb. 14.
After the shooting, he worked with other students on youth voter registration and even went to Tallahassee to lobby lawmakers for gun-control legislation.
But once he started at UM, he said he realized he didn’t have the time to campaign and wouldn’t have the time to serve.
“Within the first week of school, I realized I needed to place a focus on my education,” he said. “I’m not campaigning nor do I expect to win.”
That leaves Walker, who is eager to be a commissioner. The father of five children, Walker said during his endorsement interview at the Sun Sentinel that he moved to Parkland “because of the schools and the small town atmosphere.”
His primary concern is how Parkland will manage its inevitable growth, particularly the increased traffic. “We need to make sure the exceptional services that our residents have come to expect do not diminish due to its growth,” he said in his questionnaire. “Growth can be an excellent thing if it is handled properly.”
Walker said that because of his children, he’s deeply involved in Parkland’s schools and sport leagues. He said those experiences make him particularly qualified to be a Parkland commissioner because he knows first-hand what citizens like and dislike.
The owner of a sign company, Walker is a strong supporter of the current commission. He said the commissioners performed admirably after the school shooting. He’s pragmatic about taxes and says increases are unavoidable if citizens want to retain quality services.
The commission seat is open because Commissioner Grace Solomon announced in June that she was quitting after two years on the job. She announced her decision on Facebook with this statement:
“Since I started, I’ve learned a great deal about city politics, many of those realities I will keep to myself. Let’s just say, it’s not always a pretty picture and political motivations aren’t always pure. I’ve been frequently disappointed (and frustrated) by what I’ve experienced.”
District Two covers Aston Gardens, Waters Edge, The Landings, Parkland Estates, Parkland Golf & Country Club, the southern section of Parkland Isles and Meadow Run. City commissioners earn $28,810 and receive $360 for car allowance, $7,812 in health insurance and $600 for cell phone allowance.