Joan Lindsay is running for the Palmetto Bay Village Council seat representing District 3. The election is Nov. 2.
Lindsay has been a resident of Palmetto Bay and South Miami-Dade County for 37 years. She is married to Jerry Templer and is a former schoolteacher and a community activist whose commitment to issues has led her to seek elective office.
“I am running for the District 3 council seat because I believe we incorporated to keep government out of our lives and to have greater local control on zoning and other issues affecting our residents, neighborhoods and businesses,” Lindsay said.
The daughter of a career Naval officer, Lindsay has lived in Maine, Alaska, Brazil, California, Maryland, Japan and Virginia in addition to Florida. She said she believes that her experience in the school system and in the community will assist her in fulfilling the duties of council member.
“As a mathematics, computer education, and critical thinking skills teacher for 30 years, primarily at Southwood Middle and Miami Palmetto Senior High, I taught approximately 5,000 children from the immediate area,” Lindsay said. “My background has helped me develop excellent reasoning, problem solving, and people skills.
“For the past five years I have been involved with civic interests in community affairs as president of CCOCI [Concerned Citizens of Old Cutler Inc.] and founder of Save OUR Palmetto Bay. This experience has given me an in-depth understanding of what village residents expect from their government.”
Lindsay’s educational background includes graduation from Zama American High School in Japan; Old Dominion University, with a BA in Mathematics; Florida International University, master;s in Math Education, and Barry University, Specialist Degree in Computer Education.
Lindsay taught mathematics at Southwood Middle School, where she also was Mathematics chair, and Miami Palmetto Senior High School, teaching all levels of math from basic through AP calculus BC and computer programming. As a Miami Dade School District teacher on special assignment, she taught teachers throughout the county how to incorporate critical thinking skills into their lessons.
The goals she considers the most important for the village council in the coming term center around residents and businesses alike.
“Because of my devotion to the people of Palmetto Bay, I have a strong desire to protect our property values, our quality of life, and the quiet enjoyment of our homes,” Lindsay said. “By doing so, I believe we can attract quality people and businesses to our community which will keep our property values up and our tax base solid.”
Besides serving as vice president and president of CCOCI and founding the Save OUR Palmetto Bay Committee, Lindsay has worked on zoning and other issues affecting quality of life. She successfully worked toward turning a citizens’ initiative into a village charter amendment allowing neighbors’ input in private school enrollment expansion. Lindsay continues to be an activist against high-density development within residential zoning areas and has worked with others to help to save wetlands and restore the Biscayne Bay water flow from the Everglades.
Lindsay regularly attends village council meetings and says she keeps informed on village issues. She is a member of the Palmetto Bay Business Association.
“In talking with residents as I walk door to door, I find they want to maintain the suburban qualities of our village,” Lindsay said. “Traffic issues could be helped with lengthened signals, increased enforcement, and calming measures.
“In order to continue to provide the level of services we now enjoy with a projected shortfall of $220,000 from our property taxes, we must tighten our belts a bit to keep our village tax rate what it is now. Seeking grant money is also important, and will enable us to do more without raising taxes.”
Lindsay’s life experiences reveal a variety of interests over the years, from running in the Orange Bowl Marathon, twice climbing Mount Fuji in Japan, sailing a boat from France to Miami with her husband, growing and showing orchids for many years and a love for “people, animals, and everything green.” She believes that now is the time for her to take an active role in village government.
“I want to continue to serve the community I have called home for 37 years and be the people’s voice on the council,” Lindsay said. “I plan to devote full time to listening, working, and standing up for the people of Palmetto Bay and their vision of our future. I am proud to say I have been endorsed by County Commissioner Katy Sorenson.”
For more information visit her website at <http://joanlindsay.com/>, call 305-297-2617 or send email to <Joan@JoanLindsay.com>.
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