Meet the Candidates for City Council 2023

Join us Wednesday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m.for "Meet the Candidates for City Council" on ZOOM. You will get a chance to meet the candidates and learn where they stand on the issues as well as an opportunity to ask questions.

Candidate bios:

Taylor Dingle:

Taylor Dingle, Vice Chair for the City of Vero Beach Utilities Commission, former member of the City of Vero Beach Historic Preservation Commission, and dedicated community advocate, has devoted the past six years to gaining a command of the most pressing issues and related initiatives facing our community.  From Three Corners, Twin Pairs, and Downtown Master Plan, to the City Marina expansion, and relocating the Waste Water Reclamation facility, Taylor is committed to advancing these projects with an eye toward preserving the charm Vero Beach is known for, while working with the community to create a fresh, shared vision for the future.

A southwest Pennsylvania native with blue-collar roots, Taylor was raised in Centerville by his mother, a small business owner, and father, a US Steel worker. He attended Pennsylvania Western University and after graduation, relocated to Vero Beach.  A member of the John’s Island Club Professional Golf Staff since 2017, Taylor met his wife, Taylor Eliason-Dingle, during his first season here in Vero Beach. That is when Taylor found his family, home, and future in Vero Beach. Taylor recognizes his generation will live with the consequences of today’s decisions and will work tirelessly to shepherd the most important projects to successful implementation.

Honey Minuse:

A Registered Nurse and long-time resident of Vero Beach, Honey Minuse has been very active in the community since 1989, when she and her husband, Dave, purchased a home in Vero Isles.  Among many other volunteer and leadership roles throughout the city, including Vero Isles HOA President (1996-2000 and 2004-2007) Minuse served on City Council (2020-2022) and the City’s Planning and Zoning Board (2011-2020) where she served as both Chair and Vice Chair.  It was during those years on Planning and Zoning that the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was updated, a major project with citizen participation throughout.  She was also Chair of the Noise Impact Committee which led to the adoption of the Vero Beach Noise Ordinance. Years earlier she participated in creation of the City's Vision Plan which still today defines how growth will be managed to maintain the unique charm of Vero Beach. She held a leadership role with the Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA) to assure the integrity of that Vision Plan and later brought it to a non-profit status, away from divisive politics.  The IRNA was a founding partner of the Clean Water Coalition under her leadership.

Born and raised in New York, Minuse graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook. and then became certified by the Veterans Administration in "Principles of Patient Evaluation and Diagnosis," prior to the establishment of the Nurse Practitioner role. An accomplishment during that time was being part of the team which established the diagnosis of Autism. She holds a current Florida license as a Registered Nurse (non-practicing) and serves as Ambassador for the Indian River County Mental Health Collaborative.

John Cotugno:

John hails from Rhode Island but landed in Vero Beach aer rering from over 40 years of leadership in the electronics Industry primarily in the Semiconductor market. He immediately began serving our community as a Volunteer Public Policy Advocate for the Alzheimer’s  Association on both the State and Federal level. In 2019: Governor DeSantis appointed him to the State Health Improvement Plan Committee, he was appointed both to the Vero Beach Utlites Commission, where he served as Vice-Chairman, and the Three Corners Steering Committee.

He was elected to the Vero Beach City Council in 2021 and began serving as Mayor in 2022.He resides in Central Beach with his wife, Jan Williams, and rescue dog Roxie.

REMINDER: If you vote by mail, all requests for Vote By Mail Ballots in Florida expired on December 31, 2022. So, to cast a vote by mail for the upcoming 2023-2024 elections, voters must submit a fresh request. Applications for mail ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. More details on application process here.