Windermere Town Council Candidate Q&A: Anthony 'Tony' Davit

BIO:

Age: 53 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Purdue University; master’s degree in civil engineering, University of Illinois; master’s degree in strategic studies, U.S. Air Force Air War College

Relevant experience: 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force, culminating in command at the Group level. In that role, Davit led a 900-person USAF Group and a 1,900-person Joint Base support staff providing services to more than 40,000 service members, 56,000 military dependents and a 300,000 overall supported population on 414,000 acres.  

Why do you want to serve on Town Council?

Throughout my 26-year Air Force career, I always enjoyed being a servant leader, making the bases I was assigned to better places to live and work. In addition, my nomadic military lifestyle never allowed me to be as involved in my local community as I would have liked. I feel that serving on the Windermere Town Council will let me get involved in my local community, permit me to use my education and training as a civil engineer, and continue to be a servant leader to make the community that I fell in love with a better place.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities for the town?

One, we must work with the county and state to solve the ever-growing traffic problem caused by the rapid expansion of the surrounding areas. This development with no traffic plan is not sustainable. Two, there continues to be plans set forth to redevelop parts of the Windermere business district. I want to ensure that any redevelopment is done in a responsible manner ensuring the “feel” of the town is maintained. Three, we need to continue to protect the town from the urban sprawl occurring around us.

Why should residents vote for you?

I have a proven track record of leadership while serving in the U.S. Air Force, and I have a skillset that can be used to solve some of the challenges facing Windermere.  

What is the best way for the town to handle its ongoing cut-through traffic issues?

We must work with the county and state to identify alternative routing for a majority of the traffic that is currently routing through downtown Windermere. The county and state cannot continue to ignore the problem caused by growth in the areas surrounding the town.  

What is your stance on plans for bringing residents access to potable water?

Currently, all residents have access to potable water albeit mainly through individual wells. I need to weigh the pro/cons and costs of developing a municipal water-distribution system before solidifying a position. 

If you had a magic wand, what three issues for Windermere would you change?

I would get rid of the COVID-19 virus. I would return businesses and residents that have been adversely impacted by the pandemic to pre-COVID levels of success. I would eliminate traffic congestion in the town.  

How can the town of Windermere best support its residents and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Continue to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine while promoting responsible reopening of businesses to allow recovery.

If elected, how will you ensure transparency and open communication with residents?

I plan to communicate in a broad spectrum using social media and email to ensure the Town Council’s transparency with all residents.