Konk Life’s Political Questionnaire:

Konk Life has invited every candidate in the upcoming elections to answer the following questions about themselves and their candidacy.

                      Q&A Geoff Bailey

           Interview conducted by Mark Howell

 

Tell us your age, what office you’re running for and any previous offices held.

Dr. Geoff Bailey, DVM; age 44; first endeavor into the political realm.

 

Explain your platform and why you are running.

As a veterinarian, I deal with mosquitoes and their transmissible diseases on a daily basis. I am confident that my knowledge and experience will be an asset to the board, particularly in the implementation and utilization of the newer biologically based protocols I think we should be pursuing. I believe that Monroe County is at a crossroads right now and that we need to adopt some of the newer technologies that are available to us. I believe that we should be working with outside universities and entomology labs to keep us on the forefront as these technologies are developed and establish pilot projects when appropriate in order to test these technologies in the field. I believe we should be attending and speaking at continuing education events to ensure our place on the cutting edge of our industry. I believe that we should constantly be looking for ways to do our job more cost effectively with more environmental friendliness and with a greater degree of success.

 

Detail how you differ from your competing candidates.

Tom McDonald, my opponent, is an accountant. He states that his main concern is reducing spending to lower the overall budget. I feel that our Mosquito Control has been running efficiently for many years now on a budget that has already been significantly reduced. Having a scientific background, I’m most concerned with finding fundamentally better ways to eradicate the mosquito population in Monroe County. When I first moved to the Keys the mosquito situation was much worse than it is today. Since then, Mosquito Control has started to implement more scientifically-based programs rather then relying strictly on pesticide spraying. We now have proper entomology lab and state of the art surveillance software. We have introduced the more effective larvacides and have expanded the air fleet to facilitate timely treatments. My opponent, Mr. McDonald, was on the board at this time and opposed these changes, which have proven to have saved us millions of dollars and has led to a smarter, more effective mosquito control.

 

Tell us your personal history — education; professional career; family life and how long you’ve lived in the Keys or the county and your relationship to the Florida Keys and/or Key West.

I’m originally from Pennsylvania where the rest of my family still resides. I graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in zoology and marine biology, after which I attended veterinary school at Ross University. While practicing in New York my first year out of vet school, I came down to Key West on vacation. I immediately fell in love with the Keys and promptly did what my good friend David Sloan advises in his book: “Quit your job and move to Key West.” I practiced in Key West for a few years, did relief work up and down the Keys, and finally settled in Key Largo where I have been practicing for the last eight years.

 

Touch on your personal passions in addition to the above.

Being in the veterinary industry, I donate a lot of my time to helping animals. I have served on various animal rescue boards in the Upper Keys. I like to spend as much time as possible on the water: Fishing, diving and enjoying the company of friends. I recently took up playing the drums again; I guess that’s my version of a mid-life crisis.

 

Describe where, in your view, we might be going wrong in the Keys and/or Key West.

We have it good here in the Keys, there is a unique and eclectic mix of personalities that meld together to create a wonderful island community. There is always room for improvement as far as our mosquito control goes. I believe it should be a dynamic force and Monroe County should continually be striving to be the gold standard of innovation and effectiveness.

 

Tell us the political flash points you expect to encounter if elected.

The biggest controversy involves genetically- modified mosquitoes. This entails the introduction of males of the species (who do not bite or spread disease) that have been altered so that they are unable to produce viable offspring. With their continued release into the environment over time, the natural mosquito population will steadily decline. This in turn will result in a reduced need for pesticide spraying as well as aid in the prevention of some of the diseases that are currently threatening our community. Dengue fever has already established a foothold in Key West, and the chikungunya virus will most likely be here shortly, having already invaded the Florida mosquito population just to our north. Any good medical professional will tell you that prevention is much more desirable than treatment.

 

Tell us anything you feel you need to explain or any misapprehension you believe voters may have of you.

Most likely my challenge will be that voters haven’t heard of me since I am new to the political arena.

 

Give us your view on the partisan divisiveness in politics today and any solution to it you might have.

The main problem with parties today is that they tend to create problems where none may even exist. I think it’s a rare candidate who could believe in 100 percent of the stereotypical ideals that his or her party represents. One solution is to eliminate the partisan aspect of more offices, including the Mosquito Control Board. These important positions should go to people with appropriate backgrounds, experience and vision. I promise that if I’m elected I will do my best to kill both Republican and Democrat mosquitoes with equal prejudice.

 

Your Favorite Movie:

One of my favorite cult movies is “Starship Troopers.” It comes down to the human race versus the bugs and, as they say, the only good bug is a dead bug.

 

Favorite T.V. Show:

Back in the day, I never missed an episode of “The Sopranos.” Mosquitoes can’t be negotiated with, so we’ll just have to whack ’em all. Bada bing bada boom.

 

Favorite T.V. Talking Head:

Max Headroom

 

Favorite Newspaper Columnist:

Why, you are, Mark…of course 🙂

 

Favorite Book:

“ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” changed my outlook on life when I was a young teen. It remains my policy to travel light, always carry cash and not to forget my towel.

 

Favorite Character in American History:

I’ve always been a big fan of Teddy Roosevelt. He was no nonsense, never beat around the bush, and did what he set out to accomplish.

 

Favorite character in local history:

If you walk by the intersection of Duval and Margaret, you’ll find a nice little bar called The Porch, one of my campaign banners, and a plaque honoring the birthplace of Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, Florida’s first public health officer. This was a man who, in addition to setting up hospital treatment facilities, was absolutely integral in the eradication of the mosquito-borne yellow fever outbreak here in the Keys.

 

Favorite Quote:

“ Shit happens.”

 

Is there any secret strength you’d like to reveal about yourself at this point?

My girlfriend asked me not to divulge my secret strength. Seriously, if I told you, I’d have to kill you.

 

 

 

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