Mark Caruso

Mark Caruso, a Winter Springs resident, is running for Winter Springs District 5 Commissioner. He grew up in New York and was an NYPD officer for four years before moving to Florida, where he worked for the Orange County Corrections Department for 11 years. While working for OCCD, Caruso said he worked to fight corruption and misuse of power. Caruso said he was fired three times, two of which he sued and won. After leaving OCCD, Caruso started a landscaping company called Lawn Enforcement. Caruso said he would help elderly people and people who could not afford the service take care of their lawns and property for no charge. 

“I don’t give up, I keep fighting,” Caruso told Oviedo Community News. “I like people to say to me that I made a mistake or that I’m wrong, because that is the only way I am going to improve. You can’t be a ‘yes man’ in government, because if you think you’re always right, you are gonna fail. You are gonna fail the people working for you, and you are gonna fail yourself. That is why I keep fighting. My ethics are the most important thing to me.” 

Caruso’s platform includes rebuilding and retaining city staff, advocating for residents, public safety and preserving Winter Springs’ “natural beauty and family-friendly atmosphere.” Learn more.

According to Voter Focus, Caruso’s campaign finances total $16,840, $15,000 of which he contributed himself. He’s spent $5,508.88 across his campaign. 

Caruso did not submit a video.

OCN Q&A

OCN created a profile for each candidate and sent each candidate a list of questions that we created based on input from residents of Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs. Each candidate within a specific race got the same list of questions at the same time and had a 50-word limit per question. Answers were only edited for grammar and clarity.

Taxes

Q: With Oviedo having a tax hike on the ballot, some residents worry that taxes being raised might be used to fund unnecessary projects. That’s a fear residents have in Winter Springs, where some have questioned the need for a pickleball facility while the city tackles water issues. What would you do to add public input and transparency to these decisions by the City Commission?

A: If elected, I would prioritize allocating budget funds to essential needs like infrastructure and public safety. We can secure funding for amenities through grants and putting those decisions in the hands of residents through ballot initiatives.

Q: What do you say to longtime residents who see continually rising fees for services in the city (which some call hidden taxes) and higher proposed millage rates making it harder to stay in their homes? Some service fee increases that Oviedo Community News has covered recently include water rates in Oviedo and Winter Springs.  

A: Winter Springs failed to upgrade the failing wastewater facilities years ago, and the city lacks the funds to replace them. Conducting regular utility plans and rate analysis and adjusting rates accordingly can prevent drastic rate/tax hikes due to urgent upgrades and securing funds for future repairs and replacements.

Traffic and transportation

Q: Some residents are concerned that development is outpacing the capacity of the area’s roads, leading to congestion problems. Construction at the east end of Winter Springs Boulevard has been a particular concern. What will you do to ensure that population growth does not overburden local roads, and to ensure Winter Springs can handle traffic from outside the city? 

A: It is important to prioritize allocating budget funds to essential needs, including public safety. City leadership must work closely with the local police department and the Florida Department of Transportation, and take their input seriously when upgrading our roads and traffic infrastructure.

Housing

Q: Some residents say they’re being driven out of the Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs area by a shortage of affordable housing. According to the University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies’ 2023 annual report, the statewide median single-family home price hit a new peak of $400,000 in the first half of 2023. Seminole County was in the third most expensive housing price range in the state with $400,000 to $499,000 as the median single-family home price. The graph below compares the statewide affordable/available housing supply to renter households for six income groups, divided by how much they earn relative to the area median income (AMI): 0-30%, 0-40%, 0-50%, 0-60%, 0-80%, and 0-120%. For example, if the area median income is $50,000, somebody earning $25,000 would be at 50% AMI. Somebody earning $60,000 would be at 120% AMI.

How, if at all, would you address that problem?

A: When it comes to affordable housing, it’s important to work together with neighboring communities and aim for a comprehensive, long-term solution. One method to ensure affordable housing is to expand the commercial tax base, which helps keep residential taxes lower in the city.

Public safety

Q: Rising costs for police protection have residents worried about the city’s ability to fund its public safety. What will you do to ensure the city has adequate police funding in the future?

A: When creating the budget, it is important to prioritize allocating funds to essential needs. City leadership should take advantage of grants and other funding sources for public safety initiatives. This would allow us to allocate funds for training opportunities and improve salaries for our officers.

Q: What do you say to residents who argue that pedestrian safety is poor in Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs and that the local governments need more uniform signage and safer crosswalks? 

A: Winter Springs has advanced in creating safe pedestrian areas, but areas still need improvement. These areas could benefit from wider sidewalks and medians to enhance safety. Pedestrian bridges can be added in areas with heavy foot traffic. Grants are available to help fund pedestrian safety measures.

Q: As local roads widen to cope with more traffic flow, will you push for more aggressive policing of speeders in the area? If yes, how will you make that happen? 

A: I am committed to working closely with WSPD [Winter Springs Police Department] and carefully considering their advice to evaluate whether additional equipment or alternative methods are necessary to apprehend speeders. This approach will ensure that we are not solely reliant on traditional methods such as patrol vehicles.

Q: With increased instances of heavy rain and flooding in the area, what will you do to ensure that local government is taking the necessary steps to keep people, their homes and roadways safe, including improving stormwater drainage?

A: To improve the city’s stormwater system, we must allocate funds, utilize grants, and seek other funding resources. We may need to build up the banks, dredge, clear the creeks, add stormwater ponds, and work with private property owners along the creeks to establish easement agreements for access and maintenance.

Working conditions 

Q: Tension has been high among the members of the Winter Springs City Commission often leading to arguments on the dais and split votes are commonplace. What will you do to encourage civility among commission members? 

A: Leadership must stand united behind shared goals to foster a strong sense of purpose and collaboration. It is crucial to respect others and remain open to ideas that challenge your own. As a community leader, I will practice these principles.

Q: In the recent past, staff turnover has been unusually high among city staff. What will you do as a commissioner to contribute to a more stable environment in the city?

A: I am dedicated to collaborating closely with city staff, residents, and fellow commissioners. City leadership should foster an environment where staff feels respected and supported. Together, we will address challenges and make decisions that truly serve the best interests of our community.

Infrastructure

Q: Hurricane Ian in 2022 exposed numerous infrastructure issues in Winter Springs, as aging stormwater systems, bridges and roads showed their vulnerability to heavy storms. What will you do locally to make sure Winter Springs fixes those vulnerabilities?  

A: To enhance the city’s stormwater system and surrounding infrastructure, we must secure funds and collaborate with external resources. Regular maintenance, inspections, and analysis are necessary, along with taking the required actions to prevent future problems with our stormwater system and surrounding infrastructure.

Q: What will you do to improve the safety of Winter Springs’ water system and to help clarify, and increase transparency into, how the city is handling those water problems? 

A: I believe we should work closely with the Department of Environmental Protection to regularly monitor our water quality and safety, including drinking water and wastewater. We must report ALL issues to the DEP promptly and notify residents immediately using various communication channels.

Q: With increasing resident concern about the availability of potable water, what will you do to help cut the city’s reliance on potable water for irrigation, ensure that we have an adequate supply of reclaimed water in the future and improve the quality of the potable water we have?

A: With the upcoming construction of wastewater facilities, it’s crucial to bring reclaimed water to all residents across the city. This will significantly reduce the need to use potable water for irrigation. I am committed to securing grants and other funds to make this important initiative a reality.

Growth and development 

Q: Once land is zoned for development, local governments cannot downgrade that zoning, meaning that local government has little power in the development of zoned land not owned by them. What do you think the local government can do, if anything, to preserve as much of the green space and charm of the area as possible?

A: Local government has the authority to establish and remove conservation easements, which can aid in preserving greenspaces. I am dedicated to accomplishing this goal.

Q: Some residents are concerned about a lack of notifications for key votes on development. What will you do to increase transparency in the development proposal process?

A: I will encourage community members to voice their concerns, share ideas, and actively participate in local governance. It’s important to include them in the process by better notifying residents of all upcoming city board meetings and agenda items, not just the city commission meetings.

Environmental

Q: What do you say to residents who think that local parks are being mismanaged with chemical use, weed-whacked shorelines, etc.? If change is necessary, what would you do if elected to office?

A: We must follow the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and laws on the use of chemicals and destruction of vegetation in conservation easements along our waterways. I will advocate for a better reporting system within the city to report such violations and ensure our residents are fully aware of the laws.