Tim Schaffer, a native South Floridian and a Palmetto Bay resident since January 2005, is running for the District 2 seat of the village council. He is dedicated to representing village residents and protecting and preserving neighborhoods, parks and schools.
“I chose to ask the residents of Palmetto Bay to allow me to represent them as a council member in District 2 because over the past two years I have noticed an attempt by non-resident outsiders to influence the direction of our village,” Schaffer said.
“This pressure has come in the form of groups backed by non-residents that seem to be only concerned about their own interests and not the interests of the residents. Those groups are backing some of the other candidates. My responsibility will be to our residents and their concerns.”
Schaffer’s wife, Elena, also was born and raised in Miami-Dade County and except for the period between 1999 to 2004 when they lived in Chesapeake, VA, they have been lifetime residents here. He said that he strongly believes that the people in the community should come first.
“The residents of Palmetto Bay must be the driving force behind the direction of the village government,” Schaffer said. “When elected, it is my intention to focus on the direction of village government by introducing those issues that are important to the residents.
“It’s time to move away from the issues of the past that have been settled and work on projects the residents are asking to have resolved, like police protection, traffic, flooding, permitting, canal erosion, neighborhood preservation and others.”
Schaffer attended area schools and earned his bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Miami. He is sole proprietor of the independent office of Woodbury Financial Services Inc. and has 29 years experience in the financial consulting industry as a financial adviser, registered representative, investment adviser representative and an insurance agent.
The recipient of several industry awards as an expert in the areas of business consulting, retirement planning and financial advising, he has been an active adviser to more than 300 clients nationwide and has lectured throughout the U.S. on business creation, continuation and exit strategies as well as retirement and investment strategies for businesses and individuals. His community service work includes 15 years as both a Reserve and Auxiliary Police Officer for Miami-Dade County and Portsmouth, VA police departments. He currently is a board member of the Palmetto Bay Historical Preservation Board, a committee member of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Fishing Tournament and a past board member of the Sable Chase Townhomes Association
A lifetime member of the Professional Law Enforcement Association, Schaffer is a former member of a uniform patrol squad, a training squad and a Priority Services Unit in the Northside District of the Miami-Dade Police Department, a former member of a uniform patrol squad and a Neighborhood Impact Unit at the Portsmouth Police Department, recipient of several commendations, service stars and officer of the year award and co-founder of Cops for Kids.
He supports the American Cancer Society, the American Alzheimer’s Foundation and PetSmart Charities.
“We live in a great community and all but a very few residents love living here,” Schaffer said. “It’s time to promote what makes us great and improve on that greatness while eliminating the outside influences that want to tear us down. It’s time to make certain that the residents of Palmetto Bay stay in charge of their village.”
For more information visit his website at www.Tim-Schaffer.com.
— Gary Alan Ruse
