Craig Cates prepares for a new chapter in his political life following governor’s appointment to District 1 seat

BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
New District 1 Commissioner Craig Cates has plenty to be happy about this holiday season.
The five-term Key West mayor has his health, his beloved wife Cheryl and other family members, and a new chapter in his post-retirement career in public service: He’s now the sitting District 1 county commissioner, after being appointed to the post by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Cates has been to his office a few times as he prepares for what’s certain to be a hectic session of county government in the new year.
“The governor’s office called me the day of the announcement,” Cates said. “And we talked a lot about the Keys, and how much he likes it here. He asked me a few questions about what my goals on the commission would be, and then he offered me the job.”
The posting wasn’t a total surprise however. Cates was one of a handful of locals to indicate their interest in taking over the seat, previously held by Danny Kolhage. It turns out, however, that Cates’ experience as a five-term mayor of Key West pushed him past the finish line ahead of several others, who had also expressed interest in the position.
It’s yet another feather in the political cap of Craig Cates, whose family has been involved in local governance for generations.
“My uncle Bill Cates was on the board and a director of Keys Energy Services for a number of years,” Cates said. “And my mother, Emma Cates, was a city commissioner. The Emma Cates Pier, at the south end of Duval Street, is named after her. And, of course, my Great Uncle Berlin Sawyer was Monroe County Sheriff, so I guess you could say politics is in my blood.”
A mechanic by trade, Cates once owned the eponymous automotive business at the edge of Old Town, and after that the local franchise of Napa Auto Parts.
In retirement, with the businesses sold, Cates turned his attention to public service, successfully grasping the brass ring of Key West mayor, on his first try. Four more election wins later Cates has arrived at the end of his time as mayor (2009-18) barred by term-limits from running again. Cates’ District 1 boundaries, however, includes parts of Key West and Stock Island that are of special concern, and where Cates hopes to be able to continue working to address some of the town’s biggest problems.
Cates will serve out the remainder of Kolhage’s term, which ends on Nov. 17, 2020.
“Obviously, affordable housing in Key West remains one of our biggest challenges,” Cates said. “And so the projects on Stock Island are going to be an important part of the solution. Then, there’s the issue of sea level rise, which affects us all and will become even more important as time goes on. We have to start taking this very seriously to stave off the worst, and to transition smoothly to a sustainable future.”
So far, Cates has yet to be fully debriefed by his predecessor, Danny Kolhage on the political lay of the land, but is planning to be soon in the new year.
“I’ve stopped by the office a few times, but we’re still setting up shop,” he said. “My assistant arrives on Jan. 2, and that’s when we’ll get to work on 2020!”
Though the former mayor was ready to move on to something new, Cates said he’ll always cherish the memories of his time as mayor of his hometown.
“I can’t say that I’d really do anything differently,” he said. “Because it was all a learning curve for me, but I guess I’m most proud of the construction of the Vietnam War memorial, and the new City Hall. The Truman Waterfront and Key West Amphitheater are great too, but the Vietnam memorial is what I’m most proud of. That, and the way we in Key West work together to solve our problems, and make this a better place to live. We can show the world how it’s done.”
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