Mayoral candidate George Bellenger promotes ecology, community protection
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
There is a fresh breeze blowing through Key West, according to mayoral candidate George Bellenger; one replacing the “tough storm winds that gave meaning to ‘Key West Strong.’”
George Bellenger, who is in the running for the city’s top job for the second time, firmly believes in giving voters a choice during elections – but he’s no protest candidate.
“It’s time for new leadership,” Bellenger said. “You see a lot of people standing up and taking on the responsibility for moving forward. In Key West, it’s all about family and our community staying strong.”
Bellenger and his wife Carla have lived in Key West full-time for three decades now, and have always been active in the community. They take pride in their son George Jr.’s imminent graduation from Key West High School.
As a boat captain and small business owner (Key West Eco Tours) the environment has always been a major concern to Bellenger, who employs 20 people in Key Westand Geiger Key.
During the 1980s Bellenger attended an anti oil drilling demonstration at Florida Keys Community College, served as a Reef Relief volunteer, and developed a “six phonetic foreign language snorkel safety speech pamphlet” for mates to use at the reef with guests who don’t speak English, which he published and distributed to snorkel boats, “contributing to fewer people standing on the reef.”
He was also one of the founding members of Joe Weatherby’s Artificial Reefs of the Keys program, which resulted in the Vandenberg becoming a world class fishing and diving destination generating yearly tax revenue with zero maintenance costs.
“Projects like that are a win-win for the economy and the environment,” he said.
During the 1990s Bellenger organized and led protests of unlicensed and dangerous Jet Ski rental barges off Smathers Beach, which he said resulted in a dedicated “swimmers only” zone at the beach.
He’s also hosted events for MARC, advocated for SWAT training for local police, and organized the Havana Challenge competitive sailing excursions to Cuba in an effort to “bridging cultures through traditional maritime heritage.”
More recently, Bellenger has advocated for voluntary pre-K programs in Key West, worked with the TDC on sustainable tourism, and continued working against oil contamination, by taking an active role in the wake of the BP oil spill.
His most recent public protest was at the March for Our Lives rally on March 24.
“I didn’t win when I ran for Mayor in 2001 but I have stayed active in local politics,” Bellenger said. “I have watched carefully and listened, mindful of the determination and sacrifices made by so many within the city who pull us along. I am proud of their community service and wish to bring my own to the table of local government.
“We face a bright and unparalleled future while living in Paradise. It will be my job as mayor to ensure we keep the promise of preserving it for our families and those who are lucky enough to visit a place that believes our community is our future.”
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