Candidate information
Sarah Hall
Sarah Hall is a 39-year-old resident of Chuluota and candidate for the position of Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor District Group 1. She was previously elected to the position of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Group 3. Due to Florida Senate Bill 1078, a bill which resulted in the redistricting of all Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Florida, she is now running for Group 1. She currently serves as an environmental educator for the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Hall has raised $50 in campaign contributions, all of which was self contributed. Her campaign expenditures total $25. Learn more.
Jennifer Webb
Jennifer Webb is a resident and candidate for the position of Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor District Group 1. She was elected to the position of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Group 2 in 2020. Due to Florida Senate Bill 1078, a bill which resulted in the redistricting of all Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Florida, she is now running again for Group 1. She currently works as a senior architect for Lockheed Martin, as well as serving on the City of Oviedo Public Arts Board and the Seminole County Public School Business Advisory Board.
Webb has raised $225 in campaign contributions, all of which come from individual Florida residents. Her campaign expenditures total $1.21. Learn more.
Candidate Q&A
The questions below were either directly submitted by voters or were created by OCN based on what the voters told us were their priorities.
Explain your participation in local government. For example, have you ever volunteered for a local municipal board or attended local government meetings?
Sarah Hall: I have only been an associate supervisor and supervisor (Group 3) for the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District.
Jennifer Webb: I am currently on the Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District Board since elected in 2020.
How do you plan to improve communication with your constituents so more residents can get involved in the local decision making process?
Sarah Hall: Social media is one of the fastest ways to broaden communication. Using this and websites, we can get notices, information, and educational materials to the public.
Jennifer Webb: The SSWCD advocates as well as educates. I have been actively working on improving our public relations to encourage more public interaction and engagement with citizens to allow us to be the voice for natural resource issues. Part of this includes updating the website to be the one resource for all county-wide jurisdiction information.
Do you think a candidate can be involved in developing land, selling real estate, etc. and lead the community without being tainted?
Sarah Hall: Not really. There would be too much temptation to use their involvement.
Jennifer Webb: Yes by understanding the issues and being honest with citizens on the impacts of the development. Seminole County has a history of corrupt development planning and a focus on growth instead of natural resource protection. If a local official is using their position for their own personal self gain it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
What do you offer to the position you’re vying for that you believe others do not?
Sarah Hall: I am deeply involved and committed to conservation and the environment. It is my passion, and even if I am not elected, I will still be supporting and be actively involved in conservation and Soil and Water.
Jennifer Webb: Over 20 years as a licensed architect with a clear understanding of the development process that focuses on sustainable design practices. Have established a good working relationship with local environmental protection leaders to gain a solid understanding of issues within the county. Also, my experience includes strong project leadership abilities to bring diverse teams together toward a common goal.
How do you plan to fix and pay for future water problems?
Sarah Hall: Though Soil and Water holds no legislative power, we can do things like encouraging less development by buying pre-owned housing, helping the community hold developers responsible for drainage and flooding issues, and educating the community on how to solve water issues.
Jennifer Webb: There are multiple water issues within Seminole County. Our aquifer is threatened by depletion with an ever-growing population. Jurisdictions are using rural areas as dumping grounds for human refuse matter, creating toxic levels and algae blooms in our waterways. We rely on septic systems instead of modern treatment systems because it’s cheaper to developGabrielle Milch: Education, engagement, partnerships, building new relationships.
As we see growing evidence of climate change, what are your specific plans for sustainability in our communities and county?
Sarah Hall: Biodiversity is the key to conservation in our communities. Florida-friendly plants and home gardens can provide pathways to reduce habitat fragmentation and provide a way for us to enjoy nature. When we have more green spaces, we can help mitigate flooding, create natural water filtration systems (wetlands), and promote sustainable living.
Jennifer Webb: As a continuation of the previous question, I am currently working with local environmental experts and other regional leaders to identify and develop solutions to our water quality issues. This will take time because we have had over 20 years of unbridled growth and development without any oversight.
Have you studied the impact of overgrowth on government services and how expansion will affect property values in the future?
Sarah Hall: I have not studied the property values of the future extensively, but I have studied ways to involve the community in conservation. I know that overgrowth causes more flooding, health, and wildlife conflicts. We need to curb development now, work on reducing the cost of living, and creating more green spaces, especially in communities of need. We need policies to protect the environment and the economy.
Jennifer Webb: Our government services are stretched thin and we are developing in areas that should not have development in them. This was evidenced by Hurricane Ian and making people think twice about growth here.
How do you plan to protect local remaining green spaces?
Sarah Hall: I plan to support our Rural Boundary, work with local and state government on extending our green spaces, create community gardens, get out and enjoy and encourage others to utilize and protect our current green spaces, and support local businesses that keep conservation in mind. It will not be one person or group but a community that protects our green spaces, and I believe we all have something to contribute.
Jennifer Webb: I have been working with local environmental leaders on the identification and protection of local natural areas, and encouraging the change of zoning laws that protects Floridian natural habitats and minimizes the use of developing green space within the county.
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