The KONK Life Candidate Questionnaire: Phil Goodman Candidate Mosquito Control Board, Dist 2

Q. In 20 words or less, let our readers know the reasons in general that you believe you would make the very best person to fulfill the position for which you are running.

A. Mosquito Control is a multi-discipline science that plays a major role affecting our quality of life, our public health and our economy. The Board of Commissioners have total oversight of the activities of Mosquito Control.  To effectively have oversight, you need a very good understanding of the operations and technology used.  Chemical pesticides are the primary weapons used today to control mosquitoes. I am a chemist by training and a retired business executive. I spent my entire career in the global, private sector chemical industry using technology as a competitive advantage and at the same time living within narrow budgets. For the past 7 years, I have demonstrated that my business and chemical science expertise  have been  valuable contributors to our success in controlling mosquitoes effectively and efficiently, in minimizing their impact on our environment, and in minimizing their associated cost.  There is still much to achieve at Mosquito Control.

Q.  What specifically are the top four factors you believe qualify you over the assets of any other potential candidate?

A. I am a chemist, (graduate chemist from NC State University) so I have an in depth knowledge of the numerous products we use to control mosquitoes, how they should be used for maximum performance and safety, and their impact on our fragile environment. 

I am a retired chemical industry executive (corporate president of BFI with an MBA from the University of NC).  I held many technical and executive positions in this industry during my long and successful career.   As a businessman, I made and balanced many budgets that were much larger than that of FKMCD and I managed many people. My experience and judgement in creating a vision for  my former company and now  for FKMCD,  my knowledge of strategic planning, and my ability to identify and cut waste, will continue to be invaluable to continuously improve our efficiency and effectiveness.

I am the only Registered Parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians  in Monroe County.  For the past three years I have been the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, elected by my fellow commissioners. I helped introduce the Administrative Procedures that are the rules of our meetings.  Having good procedures and rules of order have helped us conduct more professionally run meetings and accomplish our goals for each meeting.

Protecting our fragile environment is very important to Mosquito Control.  I am heavily involved in our community with several volunteer organizations that focus on protecting our environment in the Florida Keys. One is the USCG Auxiliary where I am the instructor for hazardous waste handling.  I have taught free HAZWOPER courses to more than 2,000 of our residents since Deepwater Horizon oil spill in order to ensure we have sufficient volunteers to assist if we should have a major oil spill in the Keys.  I am also a CERT Instructor for Monroe County, a member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, and a long-time member of the Monroe County Marine and Port Advisory Committee.  I understand the importance of protecting our environment including the Marine Sanctuary.

In addition, I have a long history of  setting high standards and goals, prioritizing them, and working hard and tirelessly to achieve them.

Q. What is your personal view on the state of the nation in this year’s particularly interesting political season?

A. In my view, one of the most important factors for our nation is to have a growing economy that produces an adequate  number of private sector  jobs.   I also believe that having a strong military and good border control are critical for our long term security.  For these major points, I believe our nation is headed in the proper direction. 

Q.  Given your personal awareness of governance in Southeast Florida, are you optimistic about relations between the public and the powers that be?

A. There is a very big divide between the views of the populace in Southeast Florida and in the nation as a whole, about government and its role. I believe if the current economic engine continues to produce jobs and grow our economy for all, this divide will be reduced.

Q. Do you feel that the general tenor of political discourse is becoming less polite in Monroe County or staying about the same?

A.  I believe that the general tenor of political discourse is becoming less polite in Monroe County politics and it has been moving in that direction for a number of years.  The trend seems that if one side cannot beat the other side on the merits of the issues, the quality of the candidate, or by playing by the rules, then they resort to character assassination by spreading untruths.  This is a tactic used more and more through social media.  The short term impact may or may not be effective in the specific campaign,  but the long term impact is that some people who would be good public servants may choose not to participate in the process.  In this, we all lose.

Q. Tell us more about your personal history –- your work and family life –- and how they relate to your political ambitions?

A.

I am originally from North Carolina where I lettered in four varsity sports and was an All County Football Player in High School.  I am an Eagle Scout and a veteran of the USAR. I am a graduate chemist  from NCSU, with an MBA from UNC and I am a Registered Parliamentarian.   I have been married for 47 years to my wife Debby also from NC.  For the past 20 years, she, our daughter Carey and I have lived on Cudjoe Key.  Prior to that, we lived on South Miami Beach for ten years. 

I spent my entire business career in the chemical industry.  I began my career with BASF, a large chemical manufacturer.  After nine years with BASF and several years with a smaller US chemical producer and a chemical user,  I helped  form, with several other business partners, BFI Chemical from a “green field”, headquartered near Greensboro, NC.  My business partners and I grew BFI in 27 years to become a very large international chemical researcher, developer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals doing business in over 100 countries.  I was the corporate president for many years.  During this time, I traveled to more than 90 countries, starting businesses and working to expand them for BFI.  We also purchased twelve chemical producers and integrated them into our global business.  My partners and I sold this global business in 2006 to a very large multinational chemical producer.  I worked for another  two years under contract with the new owners through the transition period and then retired to my home in the Florida Keys.

In the Keys, I am very involved in the local community and try to use my experience  in chemistry and business to assist local volunteer efforts, including those involved in protecting our fragile environment in the Keys.  I am a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary where I have been involved in many areas including boating safety training and   pollution response.  As an Auxiliarist, I was the only one from Monroe County to spend 30 days at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a volunteer.  I am also a USCG certified hazardous waste and emergency response instructor (HAZWOPER) and in the past 8 years have  trained, at no cost, over 2,000 Monroe County residents as volunteers to be qualified to assist emergency responders in the event of a major oil spill on our shores.  I am also an American Safety and Health Institute certified first aid and CPR instructor as well as a Monroe County CERT instructor for hurricane and all hazard responses.  I am a member of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC), a member of the Military Affairs Committee of Key West (president for two years), a member of the Key West Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Middle Keys Republican Club in Marathon, and for many years a member of the Monroe County Marine and Port Advisory Committee.  I enjoy boating and fishing in the back country and on the reef with my family.  As a hobby, I enjoy woodworking and building an assortment of furniture items.  One of these projects involved building a large chart table for the USCG Station Marathon.

I enjoy being on the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board of Commissioners.  Here, I have been able to continue to use my science and chemical knowledge as well as my vast business experience.  I have been the Chairman of the Board for the past three years.  I am a Registered Parliamentarian, the only person so qualified in Monroe County by the National Association of Parliamentarians.  This has helped me plan and conduct effective and efficient meetings in a very professional manner and get things accomplished.  We have accomplished much in the past nearly eight years and I am running on the accomplishments we have made during that time at Mosquito Control.  However, there is still much more  to do. 

Q. From your personal experience, would a generally peaceable outlook in the Keys depend upon a measure of control over the number of our visitors and residents?

A. There must be a balance between the number of visitors and residents to produce a sustainable quality of life in the Keys.  This will not be easy to achieve as we have seen in the past, however, we must start and no time is better than now.

Q. What do you personally love most about Monroe County and the Florida Keys?

I love the people, and the life style of the tropics surrounded by the beautiful scenery and the sanctuary.

Q. What troubles you the most about today’s Monroe County and the Florida Keys?

A. Hurricanes and the sweeping changes they can make in your life.   It is the price we need to be prepared  to pay to live in Paradise.  Here, the operative word is prepared. 

Q. What planning or political mistakes do you personally believe were the worst to be inflicted on the Keys over the past decade?

A. There has not been adequate planning to solve the traffic problem in the Keys and balance this with the needed tourism.

Q. Who is your favorite character in the history of the keys?

A.

Mr. Edward B. Knight is one of the great men of the Keys.  He had a long and active life and worked hard to make the Keys a better place.  His legacy continues to improve the quality of life in the Keys for many people.

Q.  Who is your least favorite character?

A. Let me think about that!

Q. What is your favorite book?

A. “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara (a history of the battle of Gettysburg)

Q. What is your favorite movie?

“Dave”

Q. What is your favorite quote?

“In business and in life, you either make dust or you eat dust” — Unknown

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